Power control apparatus for high-frequency dielectric heating and power control method for the same

ABSTRACT

A power control method for high-frequency dielectric heating is provided. The method includes detecting input current and input voltage from an AC power supply. Input current waveform information and input voltage waveform information are acquired. It is determined whether the magnetron is being oscillated. If so, the input voltage waveform information is added to the input current waveform information until oscillation of the magnetron is detected, and the addition result is converted into the drive signal of a switching transistor of an inverter circuit. If not, the input current waveform, without addition of the input voltage waveform, is converted into the drive signal of the switching transistor of the inverter circuit.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/094,257 filed May 19, 2008, which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a power control for high-frequency dielectricheating using a magnetron such as a microwave oven and in particular tohigh-frequency dielectric heating not affected by variations or types ofcharacteristics of magnetrons or the difference in the temperatures,etc., of anodes of magnetrons.

BACKGROUND ART

A known high-frequency heating unit in a related art adjusts powersupplied to a magnetron according to the width of the output pulse froman inverter control circuit. As the output voltage of signalsuperposition means becomes higher, the output pulse width of theinverter control circuit widens and the power supplied to the magnetronincreases. This configuration makes it possible to change the outputvoltage of the signal superposition means for continuously changing theheating output of the magnetron.

Since a heater also serves as a cathode of the magnetron, a transformerfor supplying power to the magnetron also supplies power to the heaterand thus the power supplied to the heater also changes in response tochange in the power supplied to the magnetron. Thus, if an attempt ismade to maintain the heater temperature in an appropriate range, theheating output can be changed only in a slight range and it isimpossible to continuously change the heating output; this is a problem.

As a high-frequency heating unit to solve this problem, a control systemdisclosed in the patent document 1 is available. FIG. 30 is a diagram todescribe a high-frequency heating unit for executing the control system.In FIG. 30, the heating control system includes a magnetron 701; atransformer 703 for supplying power to a heater 715 of the magnetron 701at the same time as supplying high-voltage power to a high-voltagerectifying circuit 702 for supplying secondary winding power to themagnetron 701; an inverter circuit 705 for rectifying an AC power supply704, converting it into predetermined-frequency AC, and supplying the ACto the transformer 703; power detection means 706 for detecting inputpower to or output power from the inverter circuit 705; an outputsetting section 707 for outputting an output setting signalcorresponding to any desired heating output setting; a power regulationsection 708 for making a comparison between the output of the powerdetection means 706 and the output setting signal and controlling the DClevel of a power regulation signal so as to provide any desired heatingoutput; oscillation detection means 719 for outputting an oscillationdetection signal which makes a LOW to HIGH transition if the output ofthe power detection means 706 becomes equal to or larger than an outputlevel of reference voltage generation means 718; a comparison voltagegeneration circuit 716 for generating a voltage corresponding to theoutput setting signal, a waveform shaping signal comparing the outputsetting signal by a level conversion circuit 720; a waveform shapingcircuit 721 for shaping output of a rectifying circuit 710 forrectifying the AC power supply voltage 704 based on the waveform shapingsignal and the oscillation detection signal; a comparison circuit 711for comparing an output signal of the waveform shaping circuit 721 withoutput of the comparison voltage generation circuit 716 and outputting acomparison reference voltage when the former is smaller than the latteror executing inverting amplification when the former is larger than thelatter; signal superposition means 712 for superposing a fluctuationsignal of output of the comparison circuit 711 on the power regulationsignal and outputting a pulse width control signal; an oscillationcircuit 713, and an inverter control circuit 714 for executing pulsewidth modulation of output of the oscillation circuit 713 by the pulsewidth control signal and driving the inverter circuit 705 according tothe modulation output.

The high-frequency heating unit regulates the power supplied to themagnetron 701 based on the output pulse width of the inverter controlcircuit 714. As the output voltage of the signal superposition means 712becomes higher, the output pulse width of the inverter control circuit714 widens and the power supplied to the magnetron 701 increases. In theunit, the output voltage of the signal superposition means 712 ischanged continuously, whereby it is made possible to continuously changethe heating output of the magnetron 701.

According to the configuration, shaping is performed in response to theoutput setting by the waveform shaping circuit 721 for inputting therectification voltage of the AC power supply 704 and outputting to thecomparison circuit 711. Inverting amplification of the output of thewaveform shaping circuit 721 is performed by the comparison circuit 711having the comparison voltage generation circuit 716 for generating areference signal at the level corresponding to the heating outputsetting signal as a reference voltage and the inverting amplificationsignal and the output of the power regulation section 708 are superposedon each other, whereby as for the pulse width control signal output bythe signal superposition means 712, the level in the vicinity of themaximum amplitude of the AC power supply 704 becomes lower and the levelin the magnetron non-oscillation portion becomes higher at the lowoutput time as compared with the time when the heating output setting ishigh output and thus the oscillation period per power supply cycle ofthe magnetron is prolonged. Accordingly, the power supplied to theheater increases. Further, at the high output time, the input currentwaveform of the inverter becomes a waveform which is upward convex inthe envelope peak vicinity and is close to the shaped waveform of a sinewave, and harmonic current is suppressed.

Thus, the pulse width control signal is controlled so that the heatercurrent is much entered at the low output time and power supply currentharmonic lessens at the high output time by the waveform shaping circuit721, whereby the power supply current harmonic can be kept low, changein the heater current can be made small, and a highly reliablehigh-frequency heating unit can be realized.

However, in the control, it turned out that waveform shaping cannotfollow up variations or types of characteristics of magnetrons, ebm(anode-cathode voltage) fluctuation caused by the temperature of ananode of a magnetron and the load in a microwave oven, or power supplyvoltage fluctuation because waveform shaping based on “prospectivecontrol system” is executed so that the input current waveform becomesclose to a sine wave by performing pulse width modulation using amodulation waveform provided by processing and shaping a commercialpower supply waveform for an ON/OFF drive pulse of a switchingtransistor.

The variations and types of characteristics of magnetrons motivating theinvention will be briefly discussed. Since VAK (anode cathodevoltage)-Ib characteristic of a magnetron is nonlinear load as shown inFIG. 31, the ON width is modulated in response to the phase ofcommercial power supply and the input current waveform is brought closeto a sine wave for improving the power factor.

The nonlinear characteristic of the magnetron varies depending on thetype of magnetron and also fluctuates due to the magnetron temperatureand the heated substance (load) in the microwave oven.

FIG. 31 is anode cathode application voltage-anode currentcharacteristic drawings of magnetrons; (a) is a drawing to show thedifference depending on the magnetron type; (b) is a drawing to show thedifference depending on good and bad of matching of power supply ofmagnetrons; and (c) is a drawing to show the difference depending on themagnetron temperature. In the drawings, (a) to (c), the vertical axisindicates anode-cathode voltage and the horizontal axis indicates anodecurrent.

Then, referring to (a), A, B, and C are characteristic drawing of threetypes of magnetrons. For the magnetron A, only a slight current of IA1or less flows until VAK becomes VAK1 (=ebm). However, if VAK exceedsVAK1, current IA rapidly starts to increase. In this region, IA largelychanges with a slight difference of VAK. Next, for the magnetron B, VAK2(=ebm) is lower than VAK1 and for the magnetron C, VAK3 (=ebm) isfurther lower than VAK2. Since the nonlinear characteristic of themagnetron thus varies depending on the magnetron type A, B, C, for amodulation waveform matched with a magnetron with low ebm, the inputcurrent waveform becomes distorted when a magnetron with high ebm isused. The units in the related arts cannot deal with the problems. Then,producing a high-frequency dielectric heating circuit not affected bythe magnetron type is a problem.

Likewise, referring to (b), the characteristic drawing of the threetypes of magnetrons shows good and bad of heating chamber impedancematching viewed from each magnetron. If the impedance matching is good,VAK1 (=ebm) is the maximum and becomes smaller as worse. Thus, thenonlinear characteristic of the magnetron also varies largely dependingon whether the impedance matching is good or bad and therefore producinga high-frequency dielectric heating circuit not affected by themagnetron type is a problem.

Likewise, referring to (c), the characteristic drawing of the threetypes of magnetrons shows high and low of the temperatures of themagnetrons. If the temperature is low, VAK1 (=ebm) is the maximum and asthe temperature becomes gradually higher, ebm becomes lower. Therefore,if the magnetron temperature is matched with a low temperature, when themagnetron temperature becomes high, the input voltage waveform becomesdistorted.

Thus, the nonlinear characteristic of the magnetron also varies largelydepending on the magnetron temperature difference and thereforeproducing a high-frequency dielectric heating circuit not affected bythe magnetron type is a problem.

Patent document 2 discloses a control system to deal with the problemsdescribed above. FIG. 32 is a block diagram to describe a high-frequencyheating unit for executing the control system.

In FIG. 32, AC voltage of an AC power supply 220 is rectified by a diodebridge type rectifying circuit 231 made up of four diodes 232 and isconverted into a DC voltage through a smoothing circuit 230 made up ofan inductor 234 and a capacitor 235. Then, the DC voltage is convertedinto a high-frequency AC by an inverter circuit made up of a resonancecircuit 236 made up of a capacitor 237 and a primary winding 238 of atransformer 241 and a switching transistor 239, and a high-frequencyhigh voltage is induced in a secondary winding 243 of the transformer241 through the transformer 241.

The high-frequency high voltage induced in the secondary winding 243 isapplied between an anode 252 and a cathode 251 of a magnetron 250through a voltage multiplying rectifier 244 made up of a capacitor 245,a diode 246, a capacitor 247, and a diode 248. The transformer 241 alsocontains a tertiary winding 242 for heating the heater (cathode) 251 ofthe magnetron 250. The described circuitry is an inverter circuit 210.

Next, a control circuit 270 for controlling the switching transistor 239of the inverter will be discussed. First, current detection means 271 ofa CT, etc., detects an input current to the inverter circuit, arectifying circuit 272 rectifies a current signal from the currentdetection means 271, a smoothing circuit 273 smoothes the signal, and acomparison circuit 274 makes a comparison between the signal and asignal from an output setting section 275 for outputting an outputsetting signal corresponding to heating output setting. Since thecomparison circuit 274 makes a comparison to control the magnitude ofpower, in place of the above-described input signal, an anode currentsignal of the magnetron 250, a collector current signal of the switchingtransistor 239, or the like may be an input signal.

On the other hand, the AC power supply 220 is rectified through a diode261 and a shaping circuit 262 shapes the waveform. Then, an inversionand waveform processing circuit 263 inverts a signal from the shapingcircuit 262 and performs waveform processing. A gain variable amplifiercircuit 291 (described later) varies the output signal from the shapingcircuit 262 and outputs a reference waveform signal. A waveform errordetection circuit 292 outputs a difference between the input currentwaveform signal from the rectifying circuit 272 and the referencewaveform signal from the gain variable amplifier circuit 291 as awaveform error signal. A mix and filter circuit 281 (which will behereinafter referred to as “mix circuit”) mixes and filters the waveformerror signal from the waveform error detection circuit 292 and a currenterror signal from the comparison circuit 274 and outputs an ON voltagesignal. A comparison is made between the ON voltage signal and asawtooth wave from a sawtooth wave generation circuit 283 in thecomparator 282 and pulse width modulation is performed for controllingturning on/off of the switching transistor 239 of the inverter circuit.

FIG. 33 shows an example of the mix circuit 281. The mix circuit 281 hasthree input terminals; an auxiliary modulation signal is applied to aterminal 811, the waveform error signal is applied to a terminal 812,and the current error signal is applied to a terminal 813. The signalsare mixed in an internal circuit as shown in the figure. Numeral 810denotes a high-frequency cut filter having a function of removing a highfrequency component of the current error signal whose high frequencycomponent is not required. If a high frequency component exists, whenthe current error signal is mixed with the waveform error signal, thefluctuation of the waveform error signal is not finely output.

As described above, the variable amplifier circuit 291 automaticallycreates the waveform reference following the magnitude of the inputcurrent, the waveform error detection circuit 292 makes a comparisonbetween the waveform reference and the input current waveform providedby the current detection means 271 and provides waveform errorinformation, and the provided waveform error information is mixed withoutput of input current control for converting into an on/off drivesignal of the switching transistor 239 of the inverter circuit for use.

Thus, a control loop operates so that the input current waveform matchesthe waveform reference following the magnitude of the input current.Therefore, if there are variations in the types and the characteristicsof magnetrons or if there is ebm (anode-cathode voltage) fluctuationcaused by the temperature of the anode of the magnetron and the load inthe microwave oven or further if there is power supply voltagefluctuation, input current waveform shaping not affected by them is madepossible.

Patent document 1: JP-A-7-136375

Patent document 2: JP-A-2004-30981

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, in the configuration described in patent document 2, waveformshaping is performed using the auxiliary modulation signal 811 from theinversion and waveform processing circuit 263 as shown in FIG. 32. Thisis based on the reason that waveform shaping can be well performed byusing the auxiliary modulation signal 811 in addition to the waveformerror signal 812 reflecting the actually flowing current in waveformshaping. However, the inversion and waveform processing circuit 263needs to be adopted and further the rectifying circuit 272, etc.,becomes necessary and thus the structure becomes complicated andlarge-scaled; this is a problem.

As the auxiliary modulation signal 811 is adopted, it newly becomesnecessary to adjust the auxiliary modulation signal 811 in response tothe type and the characteristic of the magnetron and finally discretedesign for each circuit responsive to the target magnetron becomesnecessary; this is a problem.

Further, the output voltage waveform of smoothing circuit 30 just beforethe first on operation start of the transistor 239 becomes DC regardlessof the phase of the commercial power supply and thus, as the auxiliarymodulation signal 811 is adopted, it is necessary to control the phaseof the commercial power supply at the on operation start in the vicinityof 90 degrees, 270 degrees where the auxiliary modulation signal 811becomes the minimum, namely, the on duration of the transistor 239becomes the narrowest for preventing an excessive voltage from beingapplied to the magnetron, and control adjustment for this purposebecomes complicated; this is a problem.

Since the magnetron is a kind of vacuum tube as well known, a delay timeuntil oscillation output of an electromagnetic wave since supply of acurrent to a heater of the magnetron (which will be hereinafterdescribed simply as the start time) occurs. Although the start time isshortened by enhancing the heater current, since the impedance betweenthe anode and the cathode of the magnetron is infinite within the starttime, the voltage applied to both ends becomes high and thus a measurefor preventing the voltage from becoming excessive needs to be taken;this is a problem.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a power controlunit for high-frequency dielectric heating and its control method formaking it possible to simplify the configuration of the unit and moreminiaturize the unit and being capable of improving running efficiencywithout being affected by variations in the types or the characteristicsof magnetrons, ebm (anode-cathode voltage) fluctuation caused by thetemperature of the anode of a magnetron or the load in a microwave oven,or power supply voltage fluctuation if present.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a high-frequencydielectric heating method and unit for preventing applied voltage to amagnetron from becoming excessive relative to the dielectric strength ofeach component and shortening the starting time. It is another object ofthe invention to provide a power control unit for high-frequencydielectric heating and its control method capable of suppressinglowering of the power factor when power control is performed to a smallvalue and thus the effect of nonlinear load of a magnetron becomeslarge.

Means for Solving the Problems

The invention provides a power control unit for high-frequencydielectric heating to control an inverter circuit for rectifying voltageof an AC power supply, modulating the on time of high frequencyswitching of a switching transistor, and converting into high frequencypower, and the unit includes an input current detection section fordetecting input current from the AC power supply to the inverter circuitand outputting input current waveform information; and a conversionsection for converting the input current waveform information into adrive signal of the switching transistor of the inverter circuit so thatinstantaneous fluctuation of the input current waveform information issuppressed.

The power control unit for high-frequency dielectric heating can furtherbe provided with a mix circuit being connected between the input currentdetection section and the conversion section for mixing the inputcurrent waveform information and power control information forcontrolling so that current or voltage at an arbitrary point of theinverter circuit becomes a predetermined value and generating an onvoltage signal. In this case, the conversion section converts the onvoltage signal into the drive signal so that the on time is shortened inthe portion where the input current is large and that the on time isprolonged in the portion where the input current is small.

The mix circuit can be configured so as to mix the input currentwaveform information and power control information for controlling sothat the output of the input current detection section becomes apredetermined value and generate the on voltage signal.

Preferably, the input current waveform information is input directly tothe mix circuit, which then inverts the input current waveforminformation directly input and mixes the inverted input current waveforminformation and the power control information.

The input current detection section can have a current transformer fordetecting the input current and a rectifying circuit for rectifying thedetected input current and outputting the result.

The unit can further be provided with a comparison circuit for making acomparison between the input current and an output setting signal andoutputting the power control information.

The input current detection section can be configured so as to detectand output a unidirectional current after the input current of theinverter circuit is rectified. The input current detection section canbe provided with a shunt resistor for detecting the unidirectionalcurrent after the input current of the inverter circuit is rectified andan amplification circuit for amplifying voltage occurring across theshunt resistor, and inputs output provided by the amplification circuitdirectly to the mix circuit as the input current waveform information. Acomparison circuit for making a comparison between the output providedby the amplification circuit and an output setting signal and outputtingthe power control information can further be provided.

The mix circuit can further have a configuration for cutting a highcomponent of the power control information.

Further, the mix circuit can be switched between the circuitconfiguration when controlling so that the input current increases(which will be hereinafter referred to as “at the increase controltime”) and the circuit configuration when controlling so that the inputcurrent decreases (which will be hereinafter referred to as “at thedecrease control time”). In this case, the mix circuit has a timeconstant increased at the increase control time of the input current anddecreased at the decrease control time of the input current.

Collector voltage control information for controlling collector voltageof the switching transistor to a predetermined value can be input to themix circuit and the circuit configuration can be switched in response tothe magnitude of the collector voltage. In this case, the time constantof the mix circuit increases when the collector voltage is low anddecreases when the collector voltage is high.

Further, the input current detection section can be provided with afilter circuit for attenuating the high-order frequency portion of acommercial power supply and the high-frequency portion of high-frequencyswitching frequency, etc. Phase lead compensation may be added to thefilter circuit.

The conversion section can be implemented as a pulse width conversioncircuit for superposing the on voltage signal and a predeterminedcarrier on each other to generate the drive signal of the switchtransistor.

The power control unit for high-frequency dielectric heating can furtherbe provided with an input voltage detection section for detecting inputvoltage from the AC power supply to the inverter circuit and outputtinginput voltage waveform information and a selection section for selectingthe input current waveform information or the input voltage waveforminformation, whichever is larger, and the conversion section can beconfigured so as to convert the selected input current waveforminformation or input voltage waveform information into the drive signalof the switching transistor of the inverter circuit.

The selection section can be implemented as a mix circuit beingconnected between the input current detection section and the conversionsection for mixing the input current waveform information or the inputvoltage waveform information and power control information forcontrolling so that current or voltage at an arbitrary point of theinverter circuit becomes a predetermined value and generating an onvoltage signal, and the conversion section can be configured so as toconvert the on voltage signal into the drive signal so that the peak ofthe voltage applied to the magnetron is suppressed.

The mix circuit can be configured so as to mix either of the inputcurrent waveform information and the input voltage waveform informationand power control information for controlling so that the output of theinput current detection section becomes a predetermined value andgenerate the on voltage signal.

The input current waveform information and the input voltage waveforminformation can be input directly to the mix circuit, which then canselect the input current waveform information or input voltage waveforminformation directly input and can mix the selected input currentwaveform information or input voltage waveform information with thepower control information.

The input voltage detection section can be made up of a pair of diodesfor detecting the input voltage from the AC power supply to the invertercircuit and a shaping circuit for shaping the input voltage detected bythe diodes and outputting the shaped voltage.

The shaping circuit may have a configuration for attenuating thehigh-order frequency portion of the input voltage.

The shaping circuit may further have phase lead compensation.

The unit can further be provided with an oscillation detection circuitfor detecting oscillation of the magnetron, and the magnitude of theinput voltage waveform information from the input voltage detectionsection can also be switched in response to oscillation ornon-oscillation of the magnetron detected by the oscillation detectioncircuit.

The power control unit for high-frequency dielectric heating can furtherbe provided with an oscillation detection section for detectingoscillation of the magnetron and a changeover switch for allowing theinput voltage detection section to output the input voltage waveforminformation until the oscillation detection section detects oscillationof the magnetron, and the conversion section can be configured so as toadd the input current waveform information and the input voltagewaveform information output until oscillation of the magnetron isdetected, and convert the result into the drive signal of the switchingtransistor of the inverter circuit.

The unit can further be provided with a mix circuit being connectedbetween the input current detection section and the conversion sectionfor mixing the input current waveform information, the input voltagewaveform information output until oscillation of the magnetron isdetected, and the power control information for controlling so thatcurrent or voltage at an arbitrary point of the inverter circuit becomesa predetermined value and generating an on voltage signal, and theconversion section can be configured so as to convert the on voltagesignal into the drive signal so that the peak of the voltage applied tothe magnetron is suppressed.

The mix circuit may mix the input current waveform information, theinput voltage waveform information, and the power control informationfor controlling so that the output of the input current detectionsection becomes a predetermined value and may generate the on voltagesignal.

The input current waveform information and the input voltage waveforminformation can be input directly to the mix circuit, which then can addand invert the input current waveform information or input voltagewaveform information directly input and can mix the information with thepower control information.

The oscillation detection section may be implemented as an oscillationdetection circuit connected between the input current detection sectionand the input voltage detection section, and the changeover switch maybe provided at a connection point of the oscillation detection circuitand the input voltage detection section.

The power control unit for high-frequency dielectric heating can furtherbe provided with an addition section for adding the input currentwaveform information and the input voltage waveform information, and theconversion section can be configured so as to convert the additionresult of the input current waveform information and the input voltagewaveform information into the drive signal of the switching transistorof the inverter circuit.

The addition section can be implemented as a mix circuit being connectedbetween the input current detection section and the conversion sectionfor mixing the input current waveform information, the input voltagewaveform information, and power control information for controlling sothat current or voltage at an arbitrary point of the inverter circuitbecomes a predetermined value and generating an on voltage signal, andthe conversion section can be configured so as to convert the on voltagesignal into the drive signal so that the peak of the voltage applied tothe magnetron is suppressed.

The unit can further be provided with an oscillation detection circuitfor detecting oscillation of the magnetron, and the magnitude of theinput voltage waveform information from the input voltage detectionsection can be switched in response to oscillation or non-oscillation ofthe magnetron detected by the oscillation detection circuit.

The invention also includes a power control method for high-frequencydielectric heating executed by each of the power control units forhigh-frequency dielectric heating described above for controlling aninverter circuit for converting voltage of an AC power supply into highfrequency power.

Advantages of the Invention

According to the invention, the input current waveform information ofthe inverter circuit for rectifying AC power supply voltage andconverting into AC of a predetermined frequency is converted into thedrive signal of the switching transistor of the inverter circuit tosuppress instantaneous fluctuation of the input current waveforminformation. For example, the input current waveform information isconverted into an on/off drive signal of the switching transistor of theinverter circuit according to an on time modulation system for use.Therefore, a control loop is formed for correcting input current byinverting so that the portion where the input current is large becomessmall and the portion where the input current is small becomes large.Therefore, if there are variations in the types and the characteristicsof magnetrons or if there is ebm (anode-cathode voltage) fluctuationcaused by the temperature of the anode of the magnetron and the load inthe microwave oven or further if there is power supply voltagefluctuation, input current waveform shaping not affected by them can beobtained according to a simpler configuration and stable output of themagnetron is accomplished according to a simple configuration.

According to the invention, the input current waveform information ofthe inverter circuit for rectifying AC power supply voltage andconverting into AC of a predetermined frequency is converted into theon/off drive current of the switching transistor of the inverter circuitfor use. Thus, a control loop is formed for correcting input current sothat the portion where the input current is large becomes small and theportion where the input current is small becomes large, and if there arevariations in the types and the characteristics of magnetrons or ifthere is ebm (anode-cathode voltage) fluctuation caused by thetemperature of the anode of the magnetron and the load in the microwaveoven or if there is power supply voltage fluctuation, input currentwaveform shaping not affected by them is made possible according to avery simple configuration.

Since the input voltage waveform information is also input to thecontrol loop, there are the advantages that the starting time of themagnetron is shortened and that the power factor at the time of lowinput current is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the configuration of a power control unit forhigh-frequency dielectric heating according to a first embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the configuration of a power control unit forhigh-frequency dielectric heating having an input current detectionsection implemented as an amplifier according to a third embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram to show the details of an amplificationcircuit shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a mix circuit according to a fourthembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is waveform drawings of parts of the power control unit forhigh-frequency dielectric heating shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the configuration of a mix circuit according to afifth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the configuration of a mix circuit according to asixth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the configuration of a power control unit forhigh-frequency dielectric heating according to a seventh embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the configuration of a power control unit forhigh-frequency dielectric heating having an input current detectionsection for detecting a unidirectional current according to a ninthembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a detailed diagram of the input current detection sectionshown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram of a mix circuit according to a tenthembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a drawing to show basic waveforms of sections of the powercontrol unit for high-frequency dielectric heating shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is waveform drawings to describe the operation of the powercontrol unit for high-frequency dielectric heating shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram to show one example of a comparison andselection circuit shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a detailed circuit diagram of a shaping circuit shown in FIG.8.

FIG. 16 is a diagram of the configuration of a mix circuit according toan eleventh embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram of the configuration of a mix circuit according toa twelfth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 18 is a drawing to show a switching circuit of input voltagewaveform information according to a thirteenth embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram of the configuration of a power control unit forhigh-frequency dielectric heating according to a fourteenth embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram of the configuration of a power control unit forhigh-frequency dielectric heating having an input current detectionsection according to a sixteenth of the invention.

FIG. 21 is a circuit diagram of a mix circuit according to a seventeenthembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram to show one example of an addition circuit shown inFIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a circuit diagram of a mix circuit according to an eighteenthseventeenth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram of the configuration of a mix circuit according toa nineteenth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 25 is a time sequence chart concerning oscillation detection of amagnetron.

FIG. 26 is a circuit diagram of a mix circuit according to twelfth andtwenty-first embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 27 is a diagram of the configuration of a mix circuit according toa twenty-second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 28 is a diagram of the configuration of a mix circuit according toa twenty-third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 29 is a drawing to show a switching circuit of input voltagewaveform information according to a twenty-fourth embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 30 is a diagram of the configuration of a high-frequency heatingunit in a related art.

FIG. 31 is anode cathode application voltage-anode currentcharacteristic drawings of the high-frequency heating unit shown in FIG.30.

FIG. 32 is a diagram of the configuration of a power control unit forhigh-frequency dielectric heating in a related art.

FIG. 33 is a diagram of the configuration of a mix circuit shown in FIG.32.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 Inverter circuit-   20 AC power supply-   30 Smoothing circuit-   31 Diode bridge type rectifying circuit-   32 Diode-   34 Inductor-   35 Capacitor-   36 Resonance circuit-   37 Capacitor-   38 Primary winding-   39 Switching transistor-   41 Transformer-   42 Tertiary winding-   43 Secondary winding-   45 Capacitor-   46 Diode-   47 Capacitor-   48 Diode-   50 Magnetron-   51 Cathode-   52 Anode-   61 Diode-   62 Shaping circuit-   63 Oscillation detection circuit-   70 Control circuit-   71 Current detection circuit-   72 Rectifying circuit-   73 Smoothing circuit-   74 Comparison circuit-   75 Output setting section-   81 Mix circuit-   82 PWM comparator-   83 Sawtooth wave generation circuit-   85 Amplification circuit-   86 Shunt circuit-   90 Input current waveform information-   91 Power control information-   92 ON voltage information-   93 Collector voltage control information-   94 Input voltage waveform information

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention will be discussed in detail with theaccompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram to describe a high-frequency heating unitaccording to a first embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 1, thehigh-frequency heating unit is made up of an inverter circuit 10, acontrol circuit 70 for controlling a switching transistor 39 of aninverter, and a magnetron 50. The inverter circuit 10 includes an ACpower supply 20, a diode bridge type rectifying circuit 31, a smoothingcircuit 30, a resonance circuit 36, the switching transistor 39, and avoltage multiplying rectifier 44.

The AC voltage of the AC power supply 20 is rectified by the diodebridge type rectifying circuit 31 made up of four diodes 32 and isconverted into a DC voltage through the smoothing circuit 30 made up ofan inductor 34 and a capacitor 35. Then, the DC voltage is convertedinto a high-frequency AC by the resonance circuit 36 made up of acapacitor 37 and a primary winding 38 of a transformer 41 and theswitching transistor 39, and a high-frequency high voltage is induced ina secondary winding 43 of the transformer 41 through the transformer 41.

The high-frequency high voltage induced in the secondary winding 43 isapplied between an anode 52 and a cathode 51 of the magnetron 50 throughthe voltage multiplying rectifier 44 made up of a capacitor 45, a diode46, a capacitor 47, and a diode 48. The transformer 41 also contains atertiary winding 42 for heating the heater (cathode) 51 of the magnetron50. The described circuitry is the inverter circuit 10.

Next, the control circuit 70 for controlling the switching transistor 39of the inverter will be discussed. First, a current detection sectionmade up of a CT (Current Transformer) 71, etc., provided between the ACpower supply 20 and the diode bridge type rectifying circuit 31 isconnected to a rectifying circuit 72 and the CT 71 and the rectifyingcircuit 72 make up an input current detection section for detecting aninput current to the inverter circuit. The input current to the invertercircuit is insulated and detected in the CT 71 and output thereof isrectified by the rectifying circuit 72 to generate input currentwaveform information 90.

The current signal provided by the rectifying circuit 72 is smoothed bya smoothing circuit 73 and a comparison circuit 74 makes a comparisonbetween the signal and a signal from an output setting section 75 foroutputting an output setting signal corresponding to heating outputsetting. To control the magnitude of power, the comparison circuit 74makes a comparison between the input current signal smoothed by thesmoothing circuit 73 and the setting signal from the output settingsection 75. Therefore, an anode current signal of the magnetron 50, acollector current signal of the switching transistor 39, a collectorvoltage signal of the switching transistor 39, or the like can also beused as an input signal in place of the input current signal smoothed bythe smoothing circuit 73. That is, the comparison circuit 74 outputspower control information 91 so that output of the input currentdetection section becomes a predetermined value, but the comparisoncircuit 74 and the power control information 91 are not indispensable asdescribed later.

Likewise, as shown in FIG. 2, a current detection section of a shuntresistor 86 provided between the diode bridge type rectifying circuit 31and the smoothing circuit 30 and an amplification circuit 85 foramplifying the voltage across the shunt resistor may make up an inputcurrent detection section and output thereof may be adopted as inputcurrent waveform information 90. The shunt resistor 86 detects an inputcurrent after rectified in a single direction by the diode bridge typerectifying circuit 31.

In the embodiment, an input current waveform information detectionsystem is simplified in such a manner that a mix circuit 81 (81A) mixesand filters the input current waveform information 90 and the powercontrol information 91 from the comparison circuit 74 and outputs an ONvoltage signal 92 and a comparison is made between the ON voltage signaland a sawtooth wave from a sawtooth wave generation circuit 83 in a PWMcomparator 82 and pulse width modulation is performed for controllingturning on/off of the switching transistor 39 of the inverter circuit.Particularly in the embodiment, a configuration wherein the inputcurrent waveform information 90 is directly input to the mix circuit 81Ais adopted.

The PWM comparator 82 is a pulse width modulation circuit forsuperposing the ON voltage information 92 and a sawtooth wave of apredetermined carrier on each other to generate a drive signal of theswitching transistor 39. However, this portion may be configured as aconversion section for converting the ON voltage information 92 into adrive signal of the switching transistor of the inverter circuit so thatthe on time is shortened in the portion where the input current from theAC power supply 20 is large and the on time is prolonged in the portionwhere the input current is small; the configuration is not limited.

For the on/off control of the switching transistor 39 relative to theinput current waveform information, conversion is executed at thepolarity for shortening the on time when the input current is large andprolonging the on time when the input current is small. Therefore, toprovide such a waveform, the input current waveform information issubjected to inversion processing in the mix circuit 81A (describedlater) for use.

FIG. 4 (a) shows an example of the mix circuit 81A. The mix circuit 81Ahas two input terminals. The power control information 91 is added toone and the input current waveform information 90 is added to the otherand they are mixed in an internal circuit as shown in the figure. Theinput current waveform information 90 is input to the mix circuit 81Aand is subjected to inversion processing in an inverting circuit togenerate a correction signal.

As in FIG. 4 (b), a high-frequency cut filter is formed as shown in anAC equivalent circuit in the mix circuit 81A between the power controlinformation 91 and output. Thus, the filter cuts the high frequencycomponent contained in power control as interference with the inputcurrent waveform information 90 to shape the input current waveform.

As shown in FIG. 4 (c), a low-frequency cut filter is formed as shown inan AC equivalent circuit in the mix circuit 81A between the inputcurrent waveform information 90 and output. Therefore, the power controlinformation 91 is converted into a DC component of output of the mixcircuit 81A and the input current waveform information 90 is convertedinto an AC component.

The first embodiment thus converts the input current waveforminformation into an on/off drive signal of the switching transistor 39of the inverter circuit for use. Generally, the inverter used with amicrowave oven, etc., is known; a commercial AC power supply of 50 to 60cycles is rectified to DC, the provided DC power supply is convertedinto a high frequency of about 20 to 50 kHz, for example, by theinverter, the provided high frequency is raised with a step-uptransformer, and high voltage further rectified by a voltage multiplyingrectifier is applied to a magnetron.

As the inverter circuit system, for example, a (half) bridge circuitsystem as often used in a region where the commercial power supply is230 V, etc., for alternately turning on two switching transistorsconnected in series and controlling the switching frequency for changingoutput and an on time modulation system using a so-called 1-transistorvoltage resonance type circuit using one switching transistor 39 toperform switching and changing the on time of a switching pulse forchanging output are available. The 1-transistor voltage resonance typecircuit system is a system capable of providing a simple configurationand simple control using one switching transistor 39 in such a mannerthat if the on time is shortened, output lowers and if the on time isprolonged, output increases.

FIG. 5 is a drawing to describe waveforms provided according to thefirst embodiment of the invention; (a) shows the case where inputcurrent is large and (b) shows the case where input current is small.The solid line represents the signal shape after correction by a powercontrol unit of the invention mainly used in the description to followand the dashed line represents the signal shape of instantaneouslyfluctuating output before correction from the AC power supply 20, asdescribed later.

In FIG. 5 (a), the waveform of input current waveform information in(a1) at the top is the input current waveform information 90 output bythe rectifying circuit 72 in FIG. 1 and output by the amplifier 85 inFIG. 2, and the dashed line indicates the waveform before correctioncaused by the nonlinear load characteristic of the magnetron. (a2) ofFIG. 5 (a) shows the ON voltage information 92 of correction output ofthe mix circuit 81A; the ON voltage information 92 changes in sizefollowing the input current waveform information 90 and the powercontrol information 91 and further is output as an inverted waveform of(a1) to make complementary, correction of the distortion component ofthe input current.

(a3) of FIG. 5 (a) shows ON voltage information equivalent to the ONvoltage information 92 shown in (a2) and the PWM comparator 82 makes acomparison between the ON voltage information and a sawtooth wave fromthe sawtooth wave generation circuit 83 for modulation shown in (a4) togenerate a PWM signal of an on/off signal of the switching transistor39. That is, as shown in the figure, the ON voltage information 92 in(a3) as a PWM command signal and the sawtooth wave in (a4) are input tothe PWM comparator 82 for making a comparison therebetween and on timemodulation of a pulse is executed with the time period over which thesawtooth wave and the ON voltage information 92 cross each other as thepulse width of the on time. In the portion where the amplitude value ofthe command signal (ON voltage information) 92 is large (in theproximity of 0 degrees, 180 degrees, where the input current is small),the time period crossing with the sawtooth wave is also large and thusthe on time becomes long and the pulse width widens and correction ismade to the polarity for raising the input current. In the portion wherethe amplitude value of the ON voltage information 92 is small (in theproximity of 90 degrees, 270 degrees, where the input current is large),the time period crossing with the sawtooth wave is also small and thusthe on time becomes short and the pulse width also narrows andcorrection is made to the polarity for lowering the input current,namely, a pulse string of the on and off time periods as in (a5) isoutput as PWM signal. That is, since the ON voltage information (a2) isinverted as a correction waveform relative to the input current waveforminformation (a1), the on time is shortened like the pulse string signalin (a4) in the portion where the input of the input current waveforminformation (a1) is large (in the proximity of 90 degrees, 270 degrees)and the on time is prolonged in the portion where the input of the inputcurrent waveform information (a1) is small (in the zero cross proximityof 0 degrees, 180 degrees) for conversion to inversion output oppositeto (a1). Accordingly, the correction effect of the input waveform isprovided; particularly the effect is large in the zero cross proximity.

The waveform in (a7) at the bottom shows the ON width of the switchingtransistor 39. The ON voltage information (a3) of the correctionwaveform provided by inverting the 50-Hz (or 60-Hz) input currentwaveform information shown in (a1) is compared with the high-frequencysawtooth wave in (a4), whereby the input current waveform information isconverted into a high frequency of 20 kHz to 50 kHz, etc., by theinverter to generate the on/off signal in (a5). The switching transistor39 is driven in response to the on/off signal (a5) and high frequencypower is input to the primary side of the step-up transformer and raisedhigh voltage is generated on the secondary side of the step-uptransformer. To visualize how the on time of each pulse of the on/offsignal (a5) changes within the period of commercial power supply, (a7)plots the on time information on the Y axis and connects the points.

In the description given above, the same signal as the state in whichthe input current from the AC power supply 20 is obtained in an idealstate (for example, sine wave) is shown. However, generally the inputcurrent from the AC power supply 20 is alienated from the ideal sinewave and fluctuates when viewed instantaneously. The dashed-line signalindicates such an actual state. As indicated by the dashed line,generally the actual signal is alienated from the state of the idealsignal and instantaneous fluctuation occurs even if it is viewed in theinstantaneous time period of the half period of the commercial powersupply (0 to 180 degrees). Such a signal shape occurs due to the voltageraising action of the transformer and the voltage doubler circuit, thesmooth characteristic of the voltage doubler circuit, the magnetroncharacteristic that an anode current flows only when the voltage is ebmor more, etc. That is, it can be said that it is inevitable fluctuationin the inverter circuit for the magnetron.

In the power control unit of the invention, the input current detectionsection provides the input current waveform information (see (a1))indicated by the dashed line reflecting the fluctuation state of theinput current and the later control is performed based on the inputcurrent waveform information. The control is performed so that theinstantaneous fluctuation of the input current waveform informationoccurring in the period like a half period, for example, is suppressedso as to approach the ideal signal as indicated by the arrow. Thesuppression is accomplished by adjusting the drive signal of theswitching transistor 39. Specifically, if the input current waveforminformation is smaller than the ideal signal, the above-described ontime is made longer and the pulse width is made wider. If the inputcurrent waveform information is larger than the ideal signal, theabove-described on time is made shorter and the pulse width is madenarrower. Also in the instantaneous fluctuation in a further shortertime period, the fluctuating waveform is reflected on the on timeinformation and a correction is made in a similar manner to thatdescribed above.

Correction as indicated by the arrow is made to the input currentwaveform information by the instantaneous fluctuation suppression actionof the switching transistor 39 to which a drive signal is given, andinput close to the ideal wave is given to the magnetron at all times.Illustration of (a3) and (a5) after the correction is omitted. Theabove-mentioned ideal signal is a virtual signal; this signal becomes asine wave.

That is, in a short time period like a half period of the commercialpower supply, the sum total of instantaneous errors between the idealsignal waveform and the input current waveform information or thecorrection amounts is roughly zero because the magnitude of the inputcurrent is controlled by any other means (power control). Since theportion where the input current does not flow because of nonlinear loadis corrected in a direction in which the input current is allowed toflow, the portion where the input current is large is decreased so thatroughly zero holds true. Even for the nonlinear load, a correction ismade as if the current waveform were assumed to be linear load and thevoltage waveform of the commercial power supply is a sine wave and thusthe ideal waveform becomes a sine wave like the current waveform flowinginto linear load.

Thus, the input current is corrected at the opposite polarity to thewaveform so as to cancel out change in the input current waveform andexcess and deficiency with respect to the ideal waveform. Therefore,rapid current change in the commercial power supply period caused bynonlinear load of the magnetron, namely, distortion is canceled out inthe control loop and input current waveform shaping is performed.

Further, the control loop thus operates based on the input currentwaveform information following the instantaneous value of the inputcurrent, so that if there are variations in the types and thecharacteristics of magnetrons or if there is ebm (anode-cathode voltage)fluctuation caused by the temperature of the anode of the magnetron andthe load in the microwave oven and further if there is power supplyvoltage fluctuation, input current waveform shaping not affected by themcan be performed.

Particularly in the invention, the switching transistor is controlledbased on the instantaneously fluctuating input current waveforminformation. The instantaneous fluctuation of the input current is inputdirectly to the mix circuit 81A in the form of the input currentwaveform information and is also reflected on the ON voltageinformation, so that the drive signal of the switching transistorexcellent in suppression of the input current waveform distortion andfollow up of the instantaneous fluctuation can be provided.

The subject of the invention is to convert the input current waveforminformation into the drive signal of the switching transistor of theinverter circuit so as to suppress distortion and the instantaneousfluctuation of the input current waveform. To accomplish the object, thepower control information 91 is not particularly indispensable, becausethe power control information 91 is information to control powerfluctuation in a long time period, namely, in a period longer than thecommercial power supply period or so and is not information to correctthe instantaneous fluctuation in a short period like a half period of ACintended by the invention. Therefore, adoption of the mix circuit 81Aand the PWM comparator 82 is also only one example of the embodiment anda component corresponding to the conversion section for executing theabove-described conversion may exist between the input current detectionsection and the switching transistor.

To use the power control information, it is not indispensable either toinput the power control information 91 for controlling so that theoutput of the input current detection section becomes a predeterminedvalue to the mix circuit 81A as in the above-described embodiment. Thatis, in the above-described embodiment, the power control information 91originates from the current detection section 71 and the rectifyingcircuit 72 (FIG. 1) or the shunt resistor 86 and the amplificationcircuit 85 (FIG. 2) for detecting an input current; information forcontrolling so that the current or the voltage at any desired point ofthe inverter circuit 10 becomes a predetermined value can be input tothe mix circuit 81A as the power control information. For example,information from the collector of the switching transistor 39 can beinput to the comparison circuit 74 as it is or after it is smoothedthrough the smoothing circuit 73, and information after subjected to acomparison with the output setting signal in the comparison circuit 74can be used as the power control information.

Next, FIG. 5 (b) shows comparison with the case where the input currentis small with respect to FIG. 5 (a); (b1) shows input current waveforminformation when the input is small and corresponds to (a1) of FIG. 5(a), (b2) shows ON voltage information and corresponds to (a2) of FIG. 5(a), and (b3) shows the on width of the switching transistor andcorresponds to (a7). Although not shown, the comparison processing witha sawtooth wave shown in (a3), (a4), (a5), and (a6) of FIG. 5 (a) isalso performed in FIG. 5 (b) in the same manner, of course.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be discussed. The secondembodiment of the invention relates to the configuration of a controlcircuit. As compared with the related art example in FIG. 32, the diode261, the shaping circuit 262, the gain variable amplifier 291, theinversion and waveform processing circuit 263, and the waveform errordetection circuit 292 in FIG. 32 are omitted except that the inversioncircuit is incorporated in the mix circuit 81A as shown in FIG. 1, sothat drastic reduction is realized, the waveform error detection line isdrastically simplified, practical miniaturization of the machineconfiguration is facilitated, the control procedure is simplified, andthe processing time can be shortened and therefore the reliability ofthe machine is also improved.

Input current waveform information 90 and power control information 91from the comparison circuit 74 are mixed and the mixed information isfiltered and is converted into an on/off drive signal of the switchingtransistor 39 of the inverter circuit for use. As the circuitry is thusconfigured, the control loop using the input current waveforminformation 90 is specialized for waveform shaping of input current, thecontrol loop using the power control information 91 is specialized forpower control, the mutual control loops do not interfere with each otherin the mix circuit 81A, and the conversion efficiency is held.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment relates to an input current detection section. Asshown in FIG. 1, the above-described input current detection sectiondetects the input current to the inverter circuit with the CT 71, etc.,and rectifies and outputs by the rectifying circuit 72. In thisconfiguration, since the input current is detected using the CT, etc., alarge signal can be taken out while the insulating property is held, sothat the effect of input current waveform shaping is large and thequality of the input current improves.

In an example shown in FIG. 2, the input current detection sectiondetects the unidirectional current after rectified by the rectifyingcircuit 31 of the inverter circuit through the shunt resistor 86 placedbetween the rectifying circuit 31 and the smoothing circuit 30, andamplifies the voltage occurring across the shunt resistor by theamplification circuit (amplifier) 85, and outputs the voltage. Thisconfiguration has the advantage that the input current detection sectioncan be configured at a low cost because the detection section need notbe insulated from electronic circuitry and rectification need not beperformed either.

The amplification circuit 85 of the input current detection sectionshown in FIG. 2 is configured so as to attenuate the high-orderfrequency portion of the commercial power supply and the high-frequencyportion of high-frequency switching frequency, etc., for preventingunnecessary resonance. Specifically, as shown in a detailed drawing ofthe input current detection section in FIG. 3, the amplification circuit85 attenuates the high-order frequency portion of the commercial powersupply and the high-frequency portion of high-frequency switchingfrequency, etc., using a high cutting capacitor as in FIG. 3 (a).

Further, as the high cutting capacitor of the amplification circuit 85is inserted, for an occurring time delay, a resistor is inserted inseries with the capacitor, phase lead compensation is added, anexcessive time delay is prevented, and the stability of a control loopis ensured, as shown in a phase characteristic drawing of FIG. 3 (b).Also in the rectifying circuit 72 in FIG. 1, a configuration forattenuating the high frequency portion and a configuration for addingphase lead compensation for preventing an excessive time delay can beused.

Fourth Embodiment

A fourth embodiment relates to the mix circuit 81A shown in FIGS. 1 and2. Input current waveform information 90 and power control information91 are input to two terminals of the mix circuit 81A, as shown in aconfiguration drawing of the mix circuit in FIG. 4 (a). The inputcurrent waveform information 90 is subjected to inversion processing inan inversion circuit for correction output. Both signals are input to afilter circuit made up of C, R1, and R2 and are output to a PWMcomparator 82 as ON voltage information 92 after they are filtered. Thefilter circuit cuts the high component of the power control output 91,as shown in an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 4 (b). In so doing,the high component hindering input current waveform shaping is cut, sothat the quality of the input current waveform improves. On the otherhand, a low cutting filter is formed for the input current waveforminformation 90 to provide waveform integrity, as shown in an equivalentcircuit diagram of FIG. 4 (c).

Fifth Embodiment

In a fifth embodiment of the invention, the characteristic of a mixcircuit for mixing input current waveform information of an inputcurrent detection section and power control information for controllingso that output of the input current detection section becomes apredetermined value is controlled by providing a difference between theinput current increase control time and the decrease control time, asshown in a configuration drawing of the mix circuit relating to thefifth embodiment in FIG. 6.

In a configuration drawing of FIG. 6 (a), SW1 is turned on/off accordingto power control information 91 for lowering/raising ON voltageinformation 92. At the input current increase control time, the SW1 isturned off and the ON voltage information is gradually raised accordingto a time constant of C*R2 for widening the on width of a switchingtransistor, as shown in an equivalent circuit of FIG. 6 (b).

At the input current decrease control time, the SW1 is turned on and theON voltage information is rapidly lowered according to a time constantof C*{R1*R2/(R1+R2)} for narrowing the on width of the switchingtransistor, as shown in an equivalent circuit of FIG. 6 (c). That is,the circuit configuration of the mix circuit 81A is switched between theinput current increase control time and the input current decreasecontrol time. Particularly, at the input current increase control time,the time constant is set large and at the input current decrease controltime, the time constant is set small.

Such a difference is provided, whereby a control characteristic formaking a gentle response at the normal time and a control characteristicfor making a rapid response for decreasing the input current to preventparts destruction, etc., if the input current excessively rises for somereason can be implemented. The stability of a control characteristic forthe nonlinear load of a magnetron is also secured.

Sixth Embodiment

A sixth embodiment of the invention inputs collector voltage controlinformation for controlling the collector voltage of the switchingtransistor 39 to a predetermined value to the mix circuit 81A, as shownin a configuration drawing of the mix circuit relating to the sixthembodiment in FIG. 7.

On/off control of SW2 is performed according to collector voltagecontrol information 93 provided by making a comparison between thecollector voltage and a reference value, as shown in FIG. 7. If thecollector voltage is low, the SW2 is turned off and ON voltageinformation is gradually raised according to a time constant of C*R2 forwidening the on width of the switching transistor. If the collectorvoltage is high, the SW2 is turned on and the ON voltage information israpidly lowered according to a time constant of C*{R2*R3/(R2+R3)} fornarrowing the on width of the switching transistor. That is, the circuitconfiguration of the mix circuit 81A is switched in response to themagnitude of the collector voltage of the switching transistor 39.Particularly, if the collector voltage is low, the time constantincreases and if the collector voltage is high, the time constantdecreases.

This control is effective for excessive voltage application preventionto a magnetron when the magnetron does not oscillate, namely, when theabove-described power control does not function. After oscillation startof the magnetron, to invalidate the control so as not to affect powercontrol, preferably the reference value to be compared with thecollector voltage is set large as compared with that before themagnetron oscillation start.

Seventh Embodiment

FIG. 8 is a block diagram to describe a high-frequency heating unitaccording to a seventh embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 8,in the embodiment, a control circuit 70 also includes an input voltagedetection section made up of a pair of diodes 61 for detecting andrectifying voltage of an AC power supply 20 and a shaping circuit 62 forshaping the waveform of the rectified voltage to generate input voltagewaveform information 94 in addition to the configuration of the firstembodiment. Like that in FIG. 2, a current detection section of a shuntresistor 86 provided between the diode bridge type rectifying circuit 31and the smoothing circuit 30 and an amplification circuit 85 foramplifying the voltage across the shunt resistor may make up an inputcurrent detection section and output thereof may be adopted as inputcurrent waveform information 90, as shown in FIG. 9. The shunt resistor86 detects an input current after rectified in a single direction by thediode bridge type rectifying circuit 31.

In the embodiment, an input current waveform information detectionsystem is simplified in such a manner that a mix circuit 81 (81B)selects the input current waveform information 90 or the input voltagewaveform information 94, whichever is larger, mixes and filters theselected information and power control information 91 from a comparisoncircuit 74, and outputs ON voltage information 92 and a comparison ismade between the ON voltage information and a sawtooth wave from asawtooth wave generation circuit 83 in a PWM comparator 82 and pulsewidth modulation is performed for controlling turning on/off of aswitching transistor 39 of an inverter circuit. Particularly in theembodiment, a configuration wherein the input current waveforminformation 90 is directly input to the mix circuit 81B is adopted.

FIG. 11 (a) shows an example of the mix circuit 81B. The mix circuit 81Bhas three input terminals. The power control information 91, the inputcurrent waveform information 90, and the input voltage waveforminformation 94 are added to the three terminals and are mixed in aninternal circuit as shown in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 11 (b), a high-frequency cut filter is formed as shownin an AC equivalent circuit between the power control information 91 andoutput of the mix circuit 81B. Thus, the filter cuts the high frequencycomponent contained in power control as interference with the inputcurrent waveform information to shape the input current waveform.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11 (c), a low-frequency cut filteris formed as shown in an AC equivalent circuit between the input currentwaveform information 90 and the input voltage waveform information 94and output of the mix circuit 81B. Therefore, the power controlinformation 91 is converted into a DC component of output of the mixcircuit 81B and the input current waveform information 90 and the inputvoltage waveform information 94 are converted into an AC component.

Therefore, the power control information 91 is converted into a DCcomponent of output of the mix circuit 81B and the input currentwaveform information and the input voltage waveform information areconverted into an AC component.

The seventh embodiment thus selects the input current waveforminformation 90 or the input voltage waveform information 94, whicheveris larger, and converts the selected information into an on/off drivesignal of the switching transistor 39 of the inverter circuit for use.Generally, a PWM inverter used with a microwave oven, etc., is known; acommercial AC power supply of 50 to 60 cycles is rectified to DC, theprovided DC power supply is converted into a high frequency of about 20to 50 kHz, for example, by the inverter, the raised high frequency israised with a step-up transformer, and high voltage further rectified bya voltage multiplying rectifier is applied to a magnetron.

FIG. 12 is a drawing to describe waveforms provided according to theseventh embodiment of the invention. This example is when the magnetronnormally oscillates, namely, a situation at the normal running time; theinput current waveform information and the input voltage waveforminformation are converted into an on/off drive signal of the switchingtransistor 39 for use.

FIG. 12 is a drawing to describe waveforms provided according to theseventh embodiment of the invention; FIG. 12 (a) shows the case whereinput current is large and FIG. 12 (b) shows the case where inputcurrent is small. To obtain the on/off drive signal of the switchingtransistor 39, the current waveform is selected in FIG. 12 (a) and thevoltage wave form (dotted line) is selected in FIG. 12 (b). The solidline represents the signal shape after correction by a power controlunit of the invention mainly used in the description to follow and thedashed line represents the signal shape of instantaneously fluctuatingoutput before correction from the AC power supply 20, as describedlater. The dotted line represents the input voltage waveforminformation.

In FIG. 12 (a), the waveform of input current waveform information in(a1) at the top is the input current waveform information 90 output bythe rectifying circuit 72 in FIG. 8 and output by the amplifier 85 inFIG. 10, and the dashed line indicates the waveform before correctioncaused by the nonlinear load characteristic of the magnetron. Thewaveform of input voltage waveform information in (a1) is the inputvoltage waveform information 94 output from the rectifying circuit 62.The waveform in (a2) of FIG. 12 (a) is the ON voltage information 92 ofcorrection output of the mix circuit 81B; the ON voltage information 92changes in size following the input current waveform information 90, theinput voltage waveform information 94, and the power control information91 and further is output as an inverted waveform of (a1) to makecomplementary, correction of the distortion component of the inputcurrent.

(a3) of FIG. 12 (a) shows ON voltage information equivalent to the ONvoltage information 92 shown in (a2) and the PWM comparator 82 makes acomparison between the ON voltage information and a sawtooth wave fromthe sawtooth wave generation circuit 83 for modulation shown in (a4) togenerate a PWM signal of an on/off signal of the switching transistor39. That is, as shown in the figure, the ON voltage information 92 in(a3) as a PWM command signal and the sawtooth wave in (a4) are input tothe PWM comparator 82 for making a comparison therebetween and on timemodulation of a pulse is executed with the time period over which thesawtooth wave and the ON voltage information 92 cross each other as thepulse width of the on time. In the portion where the amplitude value ofthe command signal (ON voltage information) 92 is large (in theproximity of 0 degrees, 180 degrees, where the input current is small),the time period crossing with the sawtooth wave is also large and thusthe on time becomes long and the pulse width widens and correction ismade to the polarity for raising the input current. In the portion wherethe amplitude value of the ON voltage information 92 is small (in theproximity of 90 degrees, 270 degrees, where the input current is large),the time period crossing with the sawtooth wave is also small and thusthe on time becomes short and the pulse width also narrows andcorrection is made to the polarity for lowering the input current,namely, a pulse string of the on and off time periods as in (a5) isoutput as PWM signal. That is, since the ON voltage information (a2) isinverted as a correction waveform relative to the input current waveforminformation and the input voltage waveform information (a1), the on timeis shortened like the pulse string signal in (a4) in the portion wherethe input of the input current waveform information and the inputvoltage waveform information (a1) is large (in the proximity of 90degrees, 270 degrees) and the on time is prolonged in the portion wherethe input of the input current waveform information and the inputvoltage waveform information (a1) is small (in the zero cross proximityof 0 degrees, 180 degrees) for conversion to inversion output oppositeto (a1). Accordingly, the correction effect of the input waveform isprovided; particularly the effect is large in the zero cross proximity.

The waveform in (a7) at the bottom shows the ON width of the switchingtransistor 39. The ON voltage information (a3) of the correctionwaveform provided by inverting the 50-Hz (or 60-Hz) input currentwaveform information and input voltage waveform information shown in(a1) is compared with the high-frequency sawtooth wave in (a4), wherebythe input current waveform information is converted into a highfrequency of 20 kHz to 50 kHz, etc., by the inverter to generate theon/off signal in (a5). The switching transistor 39 is driven in responseto the on/off signal (a5) and high frequency power is input to theprimary side of the step-up transformer and raised high voltage isgenerated on the secondary side of the step-up transformer. To visualizehow the on time of each pulse of the on/off signal (a5) changes withinthe period of commercial power supply, (a7) plots the on timeinformation on the Y axis and connects the points.

In the description given above, the same signal as the state in whichthe input current from the AC power supply 20 is obtained in an idealstate (for example, sine wave) is shown. However, generally the inputcurrent from the AC power supply 20 is alienated from the ideal sinewave and fluctuates when viewed instantaneously. The dashed-line signalindicates such an actual state. As indicated by the dashed line,generally the actual signal is alienated from the state of the idealsignal and instantaneous fluctuation occurs even if it is viewed in theinstantaneous time period of the half period of the commercial powersupply (0 to 180 degrees). Such a signal shape occurs due to the voltageraising action of the transformer and the voltage doubler circuit, thesmooth characteristic of the voltage doubler circuit, the magnetroncharacteristic that an anode current flows only when the voltage is ebmor more, etc. That is, it can be said that it is inevitable fluctuationin the inverter circuit for the magnetron.

In the power control unit of the invention, the input current detectionsection provides the input current waveform information (see (a1))indicated by the dashed line reflecting the fluctuation state of theinput current and if the input current waveform information is selected(FIG. 12 (a)), the later control is performed based on the input currentwaveform information (the input current fluctuation is independent ofthe input voltage waveform information and therefore the description ofthe input voltage waveform information is skipped). The control isperformed so that the instantaneous fluctuation of the input currentwaveform information occurring in the period like a half period, forexample, is suppressed so as to approach the ideal signal as indicatedby the arrow. The suppression is accomplished by adjusting the drivesignal of the switching transistor 39. Specifically, if the inputcurrent waveform information is smaller than the ideal signal, theabove-described on time is made longer and the pulse width is madewider. If the input current waveform information is larger than theideal signal, the above-described on time is made shorter and the pulsewidth is made narrower. Also in the instantaneous fluctuation in afurther shorter time period, the fluctuating waveform is reflected onthe on time information and a correction is made in a similar manner tothat described above.

Correction as indicated by the arrow is made to the input currentwaveform information by the instantaneous fluctuation suppression actionof the switching transistor 39 to which a drive signal is given, andinput close to the ideal wave is given to the magnetron at all times.Illustration of (a3) and (a5) after the correction is omitted. Theabove-mentioned ideal signal is a virtual signal; this signal becomes asine wave.

That is, in a short time period like a half period of the commercialpower supply, the sum total of instantaneous errors between the idealsignal waveform and the input current waveform information or thecorrection amounts is roughly zero because the magnitude of the inputcurrent is controlled by any other means (power control). Since theportion where the input current does not flow because of nonlinear loadis corrected in a direction in which the input current is allowed toflow, the portion where the input current is large is decreased so thatroughly zero holds true. Even for the nonlinear load, a correction ismade as if the current waveform were assumed to be linear load and thevoltage waveform of the commercial power supply is a sine wave and thusthe ideal waveform becomes a sine wave like the current waveform flowinginto linear load.

Thus, the input current is corrected at the opposite polarity to thewaveform so as to cancel out change in the input current waveform andexcess and deficiency with respect to the ideal waveform. Therefore,rapid current change in the commercial power supply period caused bynonlinear load of the magnetron, namely, distortion is canceled out inthe control loop and input current waveform shaping is performed.

Further, the control loop thus operates based on the input currentwaveform information following the instantaneous value of the inputcurrent, so that if there are variations in the types and thecharacteristics of magnetrons or if there is ebm (anode-cathode voltage)fluctuation caused by the temperature of the anode of the magnetron andthe load in the microwave oven and further if there is power supplyvoltage fluctuation, input current waveform shaping not affected by themcan be performed.

Particularly in the invention, the switching transistor is controlledbased on the instantaneously fluctuating input current waveforminformation. The instantaneous fluctuation of the input current is inputdirectly to the mix circuit 81B in the form of the input currentwaveform information and is also reflected on the ON voltageinformation, so that the drive signal of the switching transistorexcellent in suppression of the input current waveform distortion andfollow up of the instantaneous fluctuation can be provided.

In the invention, the input current waveform information or the inputvoltage waveform information having such information to suppressdistortion and the instantaneous fluctuation of the input currentwaveform is converted into the drive signal of the switching transistorof the inverter circuit. To accomplish the object, the power controlinformation 91 is not particularly indispensable, because the powercontrol information 91 is information to control power fluctuation in along time period, namely, in a period longer than the commercial powersupply period or so and is not information to correct the instantaneousfluctuation in a short period like a half period of AC intended by theinvention. Therefore, adoption of the mix circuit 81B and the PWMcomparator 82 is also only one example of the embodiment and componentscorresponding to the selection section at least for selecting the inputcurrent waveform information or the input voltage waveform information,whichever is larger, as the mix circuit 81B and the conversion sectionfor converting the information into the drive signal of the switchingtransistor as the PWM comparator 82 may exist between the input currentdetection section and the switching transistor.

To use the power control information, it is not indispensable either toinput the power control information 91 for controlling so that theoutput of the input current detection section becomes a predeterminedvalue to the mix circuit 81B as in the above-described embodiment. Thatis, in the above-described embodiment, the power control information 91originates from the current detection section 71 and the rectifyingcircuit 72 (FIG. 1) or the shunt resistor 86 and the amplificationcircuit 85 (FIG. 2) for detecting an input current; information forcontrolling so that the current or the voltage at any desired point ofthe inverter circuit 10 becomes a predetermined value can be input tothe mix circuit 81B as the power control information. For example,information from the collector of the switching transistor 39 can beinput to the comparison circuit 74 as it is or after it is smoothedthrough a smoothing circuit 73, and information after subjected to acomparison with the output setting signal in the comparison circuit 74can be used as the power control information.

Next, FIG. 12 (b) shows waveform comparison when the input current issmall with respect to FIG. 12 (a); (b1) shows input current waveforminformation when the input is small and corresponds to (a1) of FIG. 12(a), (b2) shows ON voltage information and corresponds to (a2) of FIG.12 (a), and (b3) shows the on width of the switching transistor andcorresponds to (a7). Although not shown, the comparison processing witha sawtooth wave shown in (a3), (a4), (a5), and (a6) of FIG. 12 (a) isalso performed in FIG. 12 (b) in the same manner, of course.

If the input current is comparatively small and the value of the inputcurrent waveform information also becomes small as in FIG. 12 (b), thewaveform shaping capability of the input current is degraded. Then, inthe invention, if the input voltage waveform information (dotted line)is larger than the input current waveform information as in FIG. 12 (b),the input voltage waveform information is used for waveform shaping. Inthe embodiment, the input voltage is attenuated to generate inputvoltage waveform information and the input current is converted into avoltage to generate input current waveform information, whereby a directsize comparison can be made between the input current waveforminformation and the input voltage waveform information.

Thus, when the input current is controlled small, the input currentwaveform information becomes small and the input current waveformshaping capability is degraded. However, the input voltage waveforminformation larger than the current waveform is selected and inputcurrent waveform shaping is performed, so that degradation of the inputcurrent waveform shaping capability is suppressed. Therefore, if theinput current is small, drastic lowering of the power factor can also beprevented. The amplitude of the input voltage waveform information(threshold value to determine whether or not the input current is small)can be realized by setting the attenuation rate from the commercialpower supply voltage waveform (voltage division ratio) so that theamplitude becomes about the amplitude of the input current waveforminformation at the time of 50% to 20%, for example, of the maximum inputcurrent.

The description given above with reference to FIG. 12 is a descriptionconcerning the normal running time of the magnetron. Next, the action atthe starting time of the magnetron will be discussed. The starting timerefers to a state of the preparation stage before the magnetron startsto oscillate although a voltage is applied to the magnetron(corresponding to non-oscillation time). At this time, the impedancebetween the anode and the cathode of the magnetron becomes equal toinfinity unlike that at the stationary running time.

By the way, in the invention, the voltage from the commercial AC powersupply 20 is multiplied by the ON voltage information, namely, thecommercial power supply voltage is amplitude-modulated according to theON voltage information and is applied to the primary side of thetransformer 41. The peak value of the applied voltage to the primaryside relates to the applied voltage to the magnetron and the areadefined by the applied voltage and the elapsed time relates to thesupplied power to the heater.

In the invention, at the starting time at which the input currentwaveform information 90 is small, the input voltage waveform information94 is also input to the mix circuit 81B. That is, the input voltagemakes up for a shortage of the input current as a reference signalparticularly at the starting time.

FIG. 13 is a drawing to make a comparison description between theoperation when the input voltage waveform information is added and thatwhen the input voltage waveform information is not added. FIG. 13 (a)shows the waveforms of ON voltage information, the applied voltage tothe primary side of the transformer, the applied voltage to themagnetron, and heater input power when the input voltage waveforminformation is not added (at the stationary running time) from the topto the bottom.

FIG. 13 (b) describes the operation when the input voltage waveforminformation is added (at the starting time). FIG. 13 (a) and FIG. 13 (b)show the case where the peak value of the applied voltage to the primaryside of the transformer is limited according to the configuration of asixth embodiment, etc., described later. Further, in FIG. 13 (b), thepeaks of the applied voltage to the primary side of the transformer andthe applied voltage to the magnetron are suppressed by the action of theadded input voltage waveform information and the waveforms showtrapezoids. Like FIG. 13 (a), FIG. 13 (b) also shows the waveforms of ONvoltage information, the applied voltage to the primary side of thetransformer, the applied voltage to the magnetron, and heater inputpower from the top to the bottom.

As shown in FIG. 12, the on width of the switching transistor is largein the vicinity of phase 0 degrees, 180 degrees and thus the appliedvoltage to the primary side of the transformer and the applied voltageto the magnetron become comparatively large amplification widths. On theother hand, the on width of the switching transistor is small in thevicinity of phase 90 degrees, 270 degrees and thus the amplificationwidth is comparatively suppressed and the whole drawing of the waveformbecomes a trapezoid as a shape of suppressing the peak from the relativerelationship with the amplification width at phase 0 degrees, 180degrees.

Making a comparison between the applied voltages to the magnetron inFIG. 13 (a) and FIG. 13 (b), for the heater input powers when theapplied voltages to the magnetron are the same, the heater input powerin FIG. 13 (b) grows more than that in FIG. 13 (a) and the waveform areabecomes large, so that the heater is heated in a short time and it ismade possible to shorten the starting time.

FIG. 14 is a drawing to show one example of a comparison and inversioncircuit (comparison and selection circuit; less-than, equal-to,greater-than relation comparison, switching, and inversion circuit) forselecting and inverting the input current waveform information or theinput voltage waveform information, whichever is larger, used for theseventh embodiment of the invention. The comparison and inversioncircuit is provided in the mix circuit 81B as shown in FIGS. 11, 16, and17.

The input current waveform information 90 and the input voltage waveforminformation 94 are input to buffer transistors and outputs from thebuffer transistors are input to two transistors with a common emitterresistor and a common collector resistor. The buffer transistors areprovided for preventing interference between the input current waveforminformation 90 and the input voltage waveform information 94. The largerinput signal is selected from the diode characteristic of the transistorand is output to the common connection point of the common emitterresistor to the two transistors and the transistor to which the selectedsignal is input is brought into conduction. The emitter current and thecollector current of the transistor brought into conduction reflect themagnitude of the input signal. The magnitude of the collector current isreflected on the potential of the common connection point of the commoncollector resistor.

If the emitter voltage becomes high, the collector current becomes largeand the voltage drop of the common collector resistor becomes large,namely, the collector voltage lowers and thus the polarity of thecollector voltage is inverted relative to the input signal. Theconversion coefficient of the signal also changes with the resistancevalue ratio between the collector resistor and the emitter resistor.From the viewpoint of interference with the power control signal, it ismore effective to execute impedance conversion of the signal at thecommon collector connection point through buffer and connect it to thefollowing capacitor. Thus, in the circuit, magnitude determination ofthe two signals and selection are automatically performed and theselected signal is inverted and output.

Eighth Embodiment

Next, an eighth embodiment of the invention will be discussed withreference to the accompanying drawing. The eighth embodiment of theinvention relates to the configuration of a control circuit forselecting a signal of input current waveform information or inputvoltage waveform information, whichever is larger, mixes and filters theselected signal and power control information from a comparison circuit74, and converts the result into an on/off drive signal of a switchingtransistor 39 of an inverter circuit for use.

In the eighth embodiment, the gain variable amplifier 291, the inversionand waveform processing circuit 263, the waveform error detectioncircuit 292, and the like in FIG. 32 are omitted as shown in FIG. 8, sothat drastic reduction is realized and simplification andminiaturization can be accomplished. Further, the starting time can beshortened according to the simple configuration and a safety measure forpreventing excessive voltage application to a magnetron anode 52 is alsoadded, so that the reliability of the products improves.

As the circuitry is thus configured, a control loop using input currentwaveform information 90 is specialized for waveform shaping of inputcurrent, a control loop using power control information 91 isspecialized for power control, the mutual controls do not interfere witheach other, and the conversion efficiency is held.

Nine Embodiment

A ninth embodiment of the invention relates to an input currentdetection section. As shown in FIG. 8, it detects the input current tothe inverter circuit with a CT 71, etc., and rectifies and outputs by arectifying circuit 72. In this configuration, since the input current isdetected using the CT, etc., a large signal can be taken out while theinsulating property is held, so that the effect of input currentwaveform shaping is large and the quality of the input current improves.

In an example shown in FIG. 9, the input current detection sectiondetects the unidirectional current after rectified by a rectifyingcircuit 31 of an inverter circuit through a shunt resistor 86 placedbetween the rectifying circuit 31 and a smoothing circuit 30, andamplifies the voltage occurring across the shunt resistor by anamplification circuit (amplifier) 85, and outputs the voltage. Thisconfiguration has the advantage that the input current detection sectioncan be configured at a low cost because the detection section need notbe insulated from electronic circuitry and rectification need not beperformed either.

As shown in FIG. 9, the amplification circuit 85 of the input currentdetection section is configured so as to attenuate the high-orderfrequency portion of the commercial power supply and the high-frequencyportion of high-frequency switching frequency, etc., for preventingunnecessary resonance. Specifically, as shown in a detailed drawing ofthe input current detection section in FIG. 3, the amplification circuit85 attenuates the high-order frequency portion of the commercial powersupply and the high-frequency portion of high-frequency switchingfrequency, etc., using a high cutting capacitor as in FIG. 10 (a).

Further, as the high cutting capacitor of the amplification circuit 85is inserted, for an occurring time delay, a resistor is inserted inseries with the capacitor, phase lead compensation is added, anexcessive time delay is prevented, and the stability of a control loopis ensured, as shown in a phase characteristic drawing of FIG. 10 (b).Also in a shaping circuit 62 in FIG. 8, a configuration for attenuatingthe high frequency portion (parallel insertion of capacitor) and aconfiguration for adding phase lead compensation (series insertion ofcapacitor) for preventing an excessive time delay can be used as shownin FIG. 15.

Tenth Embodiment

A tenth embodiment of the invention relates to a mix circuit 81B, whichis provided with three terminals for inputting input current waveforminformation 90, input voltage waveform information 94, and power controlinformation 91, as shown in FIG. 11 (a). The input current waveforminformation 90 and the input voltage waveform information 94 are inputto a comparison and inversion circuit as shown in FIG. 14 and aresubjected to comparison and inversion processing. The signal provided byperforming the processing and the power control information 91 are inputto a filter circuit made up of C, R1, and R2 and are filtered and thenthe result is output to a PWM comparator 82 as ON voltage information92. The filter circuit cuts the high component of the power controlinformation 91, as shown in an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 11(b). In so doing, the component hindering input current waveform shapingis cut, so that the quality of the input current waveform improves. Onthe other hand, a low cutting filter is formed for the input currentwaveform information 90 and the input voltage waveform information 94 toprovide waveform integrity, as shown in an equivalent circuit diagram ofFIG. 11 (c).

Eleventh Embodiment

In an eleventh embodiment of the invention, the characteristic of a mixcircuit 81B for mixing input current waveform information 90 of an inputcurrent detection section, input voltage waveform information 94 of theinput current detection section, and power control information 91 forcontrolling so that output of the input current detection sectionbecomes a predetermined value is controlled by providing a differencebetween the input current increase control time and the decrease controltime. FIG. 16 is a diagram of the configuration of the mix circuit ofthe eleventh embodiment.

In a configuration drawing of FIG. 16 (a), SW1 is turned on/offaccording to the power control information 91 for lowering/raising ONvoltage information 92. At the input current increase control time, theSW1 is turned off and the ON voltage information is gradually raisedaccording to a time constant of C*R2 for widening the on width of aswitching transistor, as shown in an equivalent circuit of FIG. 16 (b).

At the input current decrease control time, the SW1 is turned on and theON voltage information is rapidly lowered according to a time constantof C*{R1*R2/(R1+R2)} for narrowing the on width of the switchingtransistor, as shown in an equivalent circuit of FIG. 16 (c). That is,the circuit configuration of the mix circuit 81B is switched between theinput current increase control time and the input current decreasecontrol time. Particularly, at the input current increase control time,the time constant is set large and at the input current decrease controltime, the time constant is set small.

Such a difference is provided, whereby a control characteristic formaking a gentle response at the normal time and a control characteristicfor making a rapid response for decreasing the input current to preventparts destruction, etc., if the input current excessively rises for somereason can be implemented. The stability of a control characteristic forthe nonlinear load of a magnetron is also secured.

Twelfth Embodiment

A twelfth embodiment of the invention inputs collector voltage controlinformation for controlling the collector voltage of the switchingtransistor 39 to a predetermined value to the mix circuit 81B, as shownin a configuration drawing of the mix circuit relating to the twelfthembodiment in FIG. 17.

On/off control of SW2 is performed according to collector voltagecontrol information 93 provided by making a comparison between thecollector voltage and a reference value, as shown in FIG. 17. If thecollector voltage is low, the SW2 is turned off and ON voltageinformation is gradually raised according to a time constant of C*R2 forwidening the on width of the switching transistor. If the collectorvoltage is high, the SW2 is turned on and the ON voltage information israpidly lowered according to a time constant of C*{R2*R3/(R2+R3)} fornarrowing the on width of the switching transistor. That is, the circuitconfiguration of the mix circuit 81B is switched in response to themagnitude of the collector voltage of the switching transistor 39.Particularly, if the collector voltage is low, the time constantincreases and if the collector voltage is high, the time constantdecreases.

This control is effective for excessive voltage application preventionto a magnetron when the magnetron does not oscillate, namely, when theabove-described power control does not function. After oscillation startof the magnetron, to invalidate the control so as not to affect powercontrol, preferably the reference value to be compared with thecollector voltage is set large as compared with that before themagnetron oscillation start.

Thirteenth Embodiment

A thirteenth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 18 adopts aconfiguration for switching the addition amount of input voltagewaveform information to input current waveform information before andafter oscillation of a magnetron. In the thirteenth embodiment, achangeover switch SW3 is provided between the shaping circuit 62 and themix circuit 81B in FIG. 8 and an oscillation detection circuit 63 fordetecting oscillation start of the magnetron from output of a rectifyingcircuit 72 is also provided. The connection point of the changeoverswitch SW3 with the shaping circuit 62 is switched between A and Baccording to the output of the oscillation detection circuit 63. Theshaping circuit 62 is provided with three voltage dividing resistorsconnected in series between a diode and ground for dividing andoutputting power supply voltage information from commercial power supplyvoltage. The power supply voltage information at the connection point Anearer to a commercial power supply 20 is large because the attenuationamount from the commercial power supply voltage is small as comparedwith the connection point B near to the ground. A capacitor provided inthe shaping circuit 62 suppresses entry of noise into the power supplyvoltage information from the commercial power supply.

At the starting time of the magnetron (corresponding to non-oscillationtime), the impedance between the anode and the cathode of the magnetronbecomes equal to infinity unlike that at the stationary running time.Since such a difference between the stationary running time and thestarting time affects the state of input current through a transformer41, the oscillation detection circuit 63 can determine whether or notthe magnetron is at the starting time from the current value obtainedfrom the rectifying circuit 72.

When the magnetron being started is detected from the output of theoscillation detection circuit 63, the SW3 is switched to the position ofthe connection point A. In this case, a larger signal (input voltagewaveform information) is input to the mix circuit 81B and the startingtime is shortened as compared with switching to the position of theconnection point B as described above.

When the oscillation start is detected by the oscillation detectioncircuit 63, the SW3 is switched to the position of the connection pointB and the signal is attenuated and thus input current waveform shapingwhen the input current is large is not hindered and the power factorwhen the input current is small is improved. Thus, the amplitudeswitching means of the power supply voltage information before and afterthe oscillation start of the magnetron is included, whereby if theamplitude of the power supply voltage information after the oscillationstart is set to the same as that when no amplitude switching means isincluded, the amplitude before the oscillation start can be set large,so that the effect of shortening the starting time described abovebecomes larger.

The oscillation detection circuit includes a configuration using thecharacteristic that when the magnetron starts to oscillate, the inputcurrent increases, for example, for comparing output of an input currentdetection section with an oscillation detection threshold level by acomparator, etc., and latching the output of the comparator, or thelike.

Fourteenth Embodiment

FIG. 19 is a block diagram to describe a high-frequency heating unitaccording to a fourteenth embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG.19, in the embodiment, a control circuit 70 includes an oscillationdetection circuit 63 for forming an oscillation detection section fordetecting whether or not an electric current signal provided by arectifying circuit 72 is at a predetermined level or whether or not amagnetron is oscillated in addition to the components of the secondembodiment. The oscillation detection circuit 63 detects the magnetronstarting to oscillate according to the level of the electric currentsignal and classifies the time before the detection as a non-oscillationstate and the time after the detection as an oscillation state with thedetection time as a boundary. If the oscillation detection circuit 63determines that the state is non-oscillation, it turns on a changeoverswitch SW3 placed between a shaping circuit 62 and a mix circuit 81(81C). In other words, the changeover switch SW3 allows an input voltagedetection section to output input voltage waveform information 94 untilthe oscillation detection circuit 63 detects oscillation of a magnetron50. It should be noted that although the magnetron repeats oscillationand non-oscillation matching the period of the commercial power supplystill after the oscillation start of the magnetron, turning on thechangeover switch SW3 based on the non-oscillation mentioned here,namely, the non-oscillation after the oscillation start is not involvedin the invention.

Like that in FIG. 2, FIG. 9, a current detection section of a shuntresistor 86 provided between a diode bridge type rectifying circuit 31and a smoothing circuit 30 and an amplification circuit 85 foramplifying the voltage across the shunt resistor may make up an inputcurrent detection section and output thereof may be adopted as inputcurrent waveform information 90, as shown in FIG. 20. The shunt resistor86 detects an input current after rectified in a single direction by thediode bridge type rectifying circuit 31.

In the embodiment, an input current waveform information detectionsystem is simplified in such a manner that the input current waveforminformation 90, power control information 91 from a comparison circuit74, and the input voltage waveform information 94 (when the SW3 is on)are added, the mix circuit 81C mixes and filters the information andoutputs ON voltage information 92 and a comparison is made between theON voltage information and a sawtooth wave from a sawtooth wavegeneration circuit 83 in a PWM comparator 82 and pulse width modulationis performed for controlling turning on/off of a switching transistor 39of an inverter circuit. Particularly in the embodiment, a configurationwherein the input current waveform information 90 is directly input tothe mix circuit 81C is adopted.

The PWM comparator 82 is a pulse width modulation circuit forsuperposing the ON voltage information 92 and a sawtooth wave of apredetermined carrier on each other to generate a drive signal of theswitching transistor 39. However, this portion may be configured as aconversion section for converting the ON voltage information 92 into adrive signal of the switching transistor of the inverter circuit so thatthe on time is shortened in the portion where the input current from anAC power supply 20 is large and the on time is prolonged in the portionwhere the input current is small; the configuration is not limited.Particularly, in the invention, the conversion section converts theinput current waveform information 90 and the input voltage waveforminformation 94 output until oscillation of the magnetron 50 is detectedinto the drive signal of the switching transistor 39 of the invertercircuit.

For the on/off control of the switching transistor 39 relative to theinput current waveform information, conversion is executed at thepolarity for shortening the on time when the input current is large andprolonging the on time when the input current is small. Therefore, toprovide such a waveform, the input current waveform information issubjected to inversion processing in the mix circuit 81C (describedlater) for use.

FIG. 21 (a) shows an example of the mix circuit 81C. The mix circuit 81Chas three input terminals. The power control information 91, the inputcurrent waveform information 90, and the input voltage waveforminformation 94 through the SW3 are added to the terminals and are mixedin an internal circuit as shown in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 21 (b), a high-frequency cut filter is formed as shownin an AC equivalent circuit between the power control information 91 andoutput of the mix circuit 81C. Thus, the filter cuts the high frequencycomponent contained in power control as interference with the inputcurrent waveform information 90 to shape the input current waveform.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 21 (c), a low-frequency cut filteris formed as shown in an AC equivalent circuit between the input currentwaveform information 90 and the input voltage waveform information 94and output of the mix circuit 81C. Therefore, the power controlinformation 91 is converted into a DC component of output of the mixcircuit 81C and the input current waveform information 90 and the inputvoltage waveform information 94 are converted into an AC component.

The fourteenth embodiment thus converts the input current waveforminformation 90 or a signal provided by adding the input voltage waveforminformation 94 to the input current waveform information 90 at thenon-oscillation time of the magnetron into an on/off drive signal of theswitching transistor 39 of the inverter circuit for use. Generally, theinverter used with a microwave oven, etc., is known; a commercial ACpower supply of 50 to 60 cycles is rectified to DC, the provided DCpower supply is converted into a high frequency of about 20 to 50 kHz,for example, by the inverter, the provided high frequency is raised witha step-up transformer, and high voltage further rectified by a voltagemultiplying rectifier is applied to a magnetron.

In the fourteenth embodiment, when the magnetron normally oscillates,namely, in a situation at the normal running time, waveforms similar tothose in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment are obtained. At this time, theoscillation detection circuit 63 determines that the magnetron is underthe normal running from the current value obtained from the rectifyingcircuit 72, and turns off the SW3. Therefore, at the running time, adiode 61 and the shaping circuit 62 do not act and the input voltagewaveform information 94 is not generated.

On the other hand, at the starting time of the magnetron (correspondingto the non-oscillation time), the impedance between the anode and thecathode of the magnetron becomes equal to infinity unlike that at thestationary running time. Since such a difference between the stationaryrunning time and the starting time affects the state of input currentthrough a transformer 41, the oscillation detection circuit 63 candetermine whether or not the magnetron is at the starting time from thecurrent value obtained from the rectifying circuit 72. If theoscillation detection circuit 63 determines that the magnetron is at thestarting time, it turns on the SW3. Therefore, at the starting time, thediode 61 and the shaping circuit 62 act and the input voltage waveforminformation 94 is generated.

In the embodiment, at the starting time at which the input currentwaveform information 90 is small, the input voltage waveform information94 is input to the mix circuit 81 through the changeover switch SW3.That is, the input voltage makes up for a shortage of the input currentas a reference signal particularly at the starting time.

Also in the embodiment, the operation when the input voltage waveforminformation is added and that when the input voltage waveforminformation is not added show similar characteristics to those in FIG.13 in the seventh embodiment.

In this case, the oscillation detection circuit includes a configurationusing the characteristic that when the magnetron starts to oscillate,the input current increases, for example, for comparing output of aninput current detection section with an oscillation detection thresholdlevel by a comparator, etc., and latching the output of the comparator,or the like. The detection value is added to the SW3.

FIG. 22 is a drawing to show one example of an addition and inversioncircuit for adding the input current waveform information or the inputvoltage waveform information. The addition and inversion circuit isprovided in the mix circuit 81 as shown in FIGS. 21, 23, and 24.

The input current waveform information 90 and the input voltage waveforminformation 94 are input to buffer transistors and outputs from thebuffer transistors are input to two transistors with a common collectorresistor. The buffer transistors are provided for preventinginterference between the input current waveform information 90 and theinput voltage waveform information 94. A current (emitter current)responsive to the magnitude of an input signal flows into an emitterresistor of each of the two transistors and voltage drop occurs in thecommon collector resistor in response to the value resulting from addingthe emitter currents.

If the emitter voltage becomes high, the current becomes large and thevoltage drop becomes large, namely, the collector voltage lowers andthus the polarity of the collector voltage is inverted relative to theinput signal. The conversion coefficient of the signal also changes withthe resistance value ratio between the collector resistor and theemitter resistor. From the viewpoint of interference with the powercontrol signal, it is more effective to execute impedance conversion ofthe signal at the common collector connection point through buffer andconnect it to the following capacitor. Thus, the circuit adds the twosignals and inverts the result for output.

Fifteenth Embodiment

A fifteenth embodiment of the invention relates the configuration of acontrol circuit (conversion section) for mixing and filtering inputcurrent waveform information and a signal to which input voltagewaveform information is further added at the non-oscillation time of amagnetron and power control information from a comparison circuit 47 andconverts the result into an on/off drive signal of a switchingtransistor 39 of an inverter circuit for use.

In the fifteenth embodiment, the gain variable amplifier 291, theinversion and waveform processing circuit 263, the waveform errordetection circuit 292, and the like in FIG. 32 are omitted as shown inFIG. 1, so that drastic reduction is realized and simplification andminiaturization can be accomplished. Further, input voltage waveforminformation 94 is added to input current waveform information 90 andheater power at the starting time is increased for shortening thestarting time according to the simple configuration and a safety measurefor preventing excessive voltage application to a magnetron anode 52 isalso added, so that the reliability of the products improves.

As the circuitry is thus configured, a control loop using the inputcurrent waveform information 90 is specialized for waveform shaping ofinput current, a control loop using power control information 91 isspecialized for power control, the mutual controls do not interfere witheach other, and the conversion efficiency is held.

Sixteenth Embodiment

A sixteenth embodiment of the invention relates to an input currentdetection section. As shown in FIG. 19, it detects the input current tothe inverter circuit with a CT 71, etc., and rectifies and outputs by arectifying circuit 72. In this configuration, since the input current isdetected using the CT, etc., a large signal can be taken out while theinsulating property is held, so that the effect of input currentwaveform shaping is large and the quality of the input current improves.

In an example shown in FIG. 20, the input current detection sectiondetects the unidirectional current after rectified by a rectifyingcircuit 31 of an inverter circuit through a shunt resistor 86 placedbetween the rectifying circuit 31 and a smoothing circuit 30, andamplifies the voltage occurring across the shunt resistor by anamplification circuit (amplifier) 85, and outputs the voltage. Thisconfiguration has the advantage that the input current detection sectioncan be configured at a low cost because the detection section need notbe insulated from electronic circuitry and rectification need not beperformed either.

Seventeenth Embodiment

A seventeenth embodiment of the invention relates to a mix circuit 81C,which is provided with three terminals for inputting input currentwaveform information 90, input voltage waveform information 94, andpower control information 91, as shown in FIG. 21 (a). According to theconfiguration, heater input power is compensated for and the startingtime can be shortened.

The input current waveform information 90 and the input voltage waveforminformation 94 (when SW3 is on) are input to an addition and inversioncircuit as shown in FIG. 22 and are subjected to addition and inversionprocessing. The signal provided by performing the processing and thepower control information 91 are input to a filter circuit made up of C,R1, and R2 and are filtered and then the result is output to a PWMcomparator 82 as ON voltage information 92. The filter circuit cuts thehigh component of the power control information 91, as shown in anequivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 21 (b). In so doing, the componenthindering input current waveform shaping is cut, so that the quality ofthe input current waveform improves. On the other hand, a low cuttingfilter is formed for the input current waveform information 90 and theinput voltage waveform information 94 to provide waveform integrity, asshown in an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 21 (c).

Eighteenth Embodiment

In an eleventh embodiment of the invention, the characteristic of a mixcircuit for mixing input current waveform information of an inputcurrent detection section, input voltage waveform information of theinput current detection section, and power control information forcontrolling so that output of the input current detection sectionbecomes a predetermined value is controlled by providing a differencebetween the input current increase control time and the decrease controltime. FIG. 23 is a diagram of the configuration of the mix circuit ofthe eighteenth embodiment.

In a configuration drawing of FIG. 23 (a), SW1 is turned on/offaccording to power control information 91 for lowering/raising ONvoltage information 92. At the input current increase control time, theSW1 is turned off and the ON voltage information is gradually raisedaccording to a time constant of C*R2 for widening the on width of aswitching transistor, as shown in an equivalent circuit of FIG. 23 (b).

At the input current decrease control time, the SW1 is turned on and theON voltage information is rapidly lowered according to a time constantof C*{R1*R2/(R1+R2)} for narrowing the on width of the switchingtransistor, as shown in an equivalent circuit of FIG. 23 (c). That is,the circuit configuration of a mix circuit 81C is switched between theinput current increase control time and the input current decreasecontrol time. Particularly, at the input current increase control time,the time constant is set large and at the input current decrease controltime, the time constant is set small.

Such a difference is provided, whereby a control characteristic formaking a gentle response at the normal time and a control characteristicfor making a rapid response for decreasing the input current to preventparts destruction, etc., if the input current excessively rises for somereason can be implemented. The stability of a control characteristic forthe nonlinear load of a magnetron is also secured.

Nineteenth Embodiment

A nineteenth embodiment of the invention inputs collector voltagecontrol information for controlling the collector voltage of theswitching transistor 39 to a predetermined value to the mix circuit 81C,as shown in a configuration drawing of the mix circuit relating to thenineteenth embodiment in FIG. 28.

On/off control of SW2 is performed according to collector voltagecontrol information 93 provided by making a comparison between thecollector voltage and a reference value, as shown in FIG. 28. If thecollector voltage is low, the SW2 is turned off and ON voltageinformation is gradually raised according to a time constant of C*R2 forwidening the on width of the switching transistor. If the collectorvoltage is high, the SW2 is turned on and the ON voltage information israpidly lowered according to a time constant of C*{R2*R3/(R2+R3)} fornarrowing the on width of the switching transistor. That is, the circuitconfiguration of the mix circuit 81C is switched in response to themagnitude of the collector voltage of the switching transistor 39.Particularly, if the collector voltage is low, the time constantincreases and if the collector voltage is high, the time constantdecreases.

FIG. 25 is a time sequence chart concerning oscillation detection of amagnetron; it shows change in anode current and collector voltageaccompanying change in input current. Before a magnetron 50 starts tooscillate, the secondary side impedance of a transformer 41 is verylarge. That is, the impedance between the anode and the cathode of themagnetron is infinite. Therefore, almost no power is consumed in thesecondary side impedance of the transformer and the collector voltage ofthe transistor 39 is controlled (limited) to a predetermined value andthus the input current to an oscillation detection circuit 63 is small(Iin1 in FIG. 25).

On the other hand, after the oscillation start of the magnetron 50, theimpedance between the anode and the cathode of the magnetron lessens andthe secondary side impedance of the transformer also lessens. Therefore,such a heavy load (magnetron) is driven with the collector voltage ofthe transistor 39 controlled (limited) to the predetermined value, sothat the input current to the oscillation detection circuit 63 increasesas compared with that before the oscillation start (Iin2 in FIG. 25).

The oscillation detection threshold level of the oscillation detectioncircuit 63 described above is preset between Iin1 and Iin2 as shown inFIG. 25. That is, the fact that a clear difference occurs in the inputcurrent before and after the oscillation start while the collectorvoltage is maintained at a given level is used as determinationmaterial. In the example shown in the figure, the time required for theinput current to the oscillation detection circuit 63 to arrive at thethreshold level after the input current starts to increase with anincrease in the anode current is t1 and the time required for theoscillation detection circuit 63 to then determine the oscillation startis t2. At this time, for time t3=t1+t2, the collector voltage controlfunctions until the circuit determines the oscillation start althoughoscillation starts.

This control is effective for excessive voltage application preventionto the magnetron when the magnetron does not oscillate, namely, when theabove-described power control does not function. After the oscillationstart of the magnetron, to invalidate the control so as not to affectpower control, preferably the reference value to be compared with thecollector voltage is set large as compared with that before theoscillation start of the magnetron.

Twelfth Embodiment

A high-frequency heating unit according to a twelfth embodiment of theinvention has a similar general configuration to that of the seventhembodiment shown in FIG. 8. In the twelfth embodiment, an input currentwaveform information detection system is simplified in such a mannerthat a mix circuit 81 (81D) mixes and filters input current waveforminformation 90, input voltage waveform information 94, and power controlinformation 91 from a comparison circuit 74, and outputs ON voltageinformation 92 and a comparison is made between the ON voltageinformation and a sawtooth wave from a sawtooth wave generation circuit83 in a PWM comparator 82 and pulse width modulation is performed forcontrolling turning on/off of a switching transistor 39 of an invertercircuit. Particularly in the embodiment, a configuration wherein theinput current waveform information 90 is directly input to the mixcircuit 81D is adopted.

FIG. 26 (a) shows an example of the mix circuit 81D. The mix circuit 81Dhas three input terminals. The power control information 91, the inputcurrent waveform information 90, and the input voltage waveforminformation 94 are added to the terminals and are mixed in an internalcircuit as shown in the figure.

As shown in FIG. 26 (b), a high-frequency cut filter is formed as shownin an AC equivalent circuit between the power control information 91 andoutput of the mix circuit 81D. Thus, the filter cuts the high frequencycomponent contained in power control as interference with the inputcurrent waveform information to shape the input current waveform.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 26 (c), a low-frequency cut filteris formed as shown in an AC equivalent circuit between the input currentwaveform information 90 and the input voltage waveform information 94and output of the mix circuit 81D. Therefore, the power controlinformation 91 is converted into a DC component of output of the mixcircuit 81D and the input current waveform information 90 and the inputvoltage waveform information 94 are converted into an AC component.

The twelfth embodiment thus converts the input current waveforminformation 90 and the input voltage waveform information 94 into anon/off drive signal of the switching transistor 39 of the invertercircuit for use. Generally, a PWM inverter used with a microwave oven,etc., is known; a commercial AC power supply of 50 to 60 cycles isrectified to DC, the provided DC power supply is converted into a highfrequency of about 20 to 50 kHz, for example, by the inverter, theprovided high frequency is raised with a step-up transformer, and highvoltage further rectified by a voltage multiplying rectifier is appliedto a magnetron.

In the embodiment, when the magnetron normally oscillates, namely, in asituation at the normal running time, waveform information similar tothat shown in FIG. 12 in the seventh embodiment is obtained. In thetwelfth embodiment, both the input current waveform information and theinput voltage waveform information are converted into an on/off drivesignal of the switching transistor 39 for use.

In a power control unit of the embodiment, an input current detectionsection provides the input current waveform information (see (a1))indicated by the dashed line reflecting the fluctuation state of theinput current in FIG. 12 and the later control is performed based on theinput current waveform information (the input current fluctuation isindependent of the input voltage waveform information and therefore thedescription of the input voltage waveform information is skipped). Thecontrol is performed so that the instantaneous fluctuation of the inputcurrent waveform information occurring in the period like a half period,for example, is suppressed so as to approach the ideal signal asindicated by the arrow. The suppression is accomplished by adjusting thedrive signal of the switching transistor 39. Specifically, if the inputcurrent waveform information is smaller than the ideal signal, theabove-described on time is made longer and the pulse width is madewider. If the input current waveform information is larger than theideal signal, the above-described on time is made shorter and the pulsewidth is made narrower. Also in the instantaneous fluctuation in afurther shorter time period, the fluctuating waveform is reflected onthe on time information and a correction is made in a similar manner tothat described above.

In the invention, the input current waveform information (and additionwith the input voltage waveform information) having the information soas to suppress distortion and the instantaneous fluctuation of the inputcurrent waveform is converted into the drive signal of the switchingtransistor of the inverter circuit. To accomplish the object, the powercontrol information 91 is not particularly indispensable, because thepower control information 91 is information to control power fluctuationin a long time period, namely, in a period longer than the commercialpower supply period or so and is not information to correct theinstantaneous fluctuation in a short period like a half period of ACintended by the invention. Therefore, adoption of the mix circuit 81Dand the PWM comparator 82 is also only one example of the embodiment andcomponents corresponding to the addition section at least for adding theinput current waveform information and the input voltage waveforminformation as the mix circuit 81D and the conversion section forconverting the information into the drive signal of the switchingtransistor as the PWM comparator 82 may exist between the input currentdetection section and the switching transistor.

By the way, if the input current is comparatively small as in FIG. 12(b), the value of the input current waveform information also becomessmall and thus the waveform shaping capability of the input current isdegraded. Again, attention is focused on the input voltage waveforminformation. It is considered that the input voltage is substantiallyconstant if the input current is lessened. Therefore, it can be expectedthat input voltage waveform information of a given size can be acquiredat all times regardless of the magnitude of the input current(comparison between FIG. 12 (a 1) and FIG. 12 (b 1)).

In the invention, not only the input current waveform information, butalso the input voltage waveform information is input to the mix circuit81D. Therefore, if the input current is comparatively small, while theinput voltage waveform information performs rough input current waveformshaping (long-period fluctuation correction), the input current waveforminformation performs fine input current waveform shaping (short-periodfluctuation correction like a half period) and degradation of the inputcurrent waveform shaping capability is suppressed. That is, actual inputcurrent fluctuation is kept track of with reference to input voltagefluctuation and a phase shift of the input current relative to the inputvoltage decreases. Therefore, if the input current is small, drasticlowering of the power factor can also be prevented. For the operationwhen the input voltage waveform information is added and that when theinput voltage waveform information is not added, those similar to thosein FIG. 13 are obtained.

Twenty-First Embodiment

A fourth embodiment of the invention relates to a mix circuit 81D, whichis provided with three terminals for inputting input current waveforminformation 90, input voltage waveform information 94, and power controlinformation 91, as shown in FIG. 26 (a). The input current waveforminformation 90 and the input voltage waveform information 94 are inputto an addition and inversion circuit as shown in FIG. 2 and aresubjected to addition and inversion processing. The signal provided byperforming the processing and the power control information 91 are inputto a filter circuit made up of C, R1, and R2 and are filtered and thenthe result is output to a PWM comparator 82 as ON voltage information92. The filter circuit cuts the high component of the power controlinformation 91, as shown in an equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 26(b). In so doing, the component hindering input current waveform shapingis cut, so that the quality of the input current waveform improves. Onthe other hand, a low cutting filter is formed for the input currentwaveform information 90 and the input voltage waveform information 94 toprovide waveform integrity, as shown in an equivalent circuit diagram ofFIG. 26 (c).

Twenty-Second Embodiment

In a twenty-second embodiment of the invention, the characteristic of amix circuit 81D for mixing input current waveform information 90 of aninput current detection section, input voltage waveform information 94of the input current detection section, and power control information 91for controlling so that output of the input current detection sectionbecomes a predetermined value is controlled by providing a differencebetween the input current increase control time and the decrease controltime. FIG. 27 is a diagram of the configuration of the mix circuit ofthe twenty-second embodiment.

In a configuration drawing of FIG. 27 (a), SW1 is turned on/offaccording to the power control information 91 for lowering/raising ONvoltage information 92. At the input current increase control time, theSW1 is turned off and the ON voltage information is gradually raisedaccording to a time constant of C*R2 for widening the on width of aswitching transistor, as shown in an equivalent circuit of FIG. 27 (b).

At the input current decrease control time, the SW1 is turned on and theON voltage information is rapidly lowered according to a time constantof C*{R1*R2/(R1+R2)} for narrowing the on width of the switchingtransistor, as shown in an equivalent circuit of FIG. 27 (c). That is,the circuit configuration of the mix circuit 81D is switched between theinput current increase control time and the input current decreasecontrol time. Particularly, at the input current increase control time,the time constant is set large and at the input current decrease controltime, the time constant is set small.

Such a difference is provided, whereby a control characteristic formaking a gentle response at the normal time and a control characteristicfor making a rapid response for decreasing the input current to preventparts destruction, etc., if the input current excessively rises for somereason can be implemented. The stability of a control characteristic forthe nonlinear load of a magnetron is also secured.

Twenty-Third Embodiment

A twenty-third embodiment of the invention inputs collector voltagecontrol information for controlling the collector voltage of theswitching transistor 39 to a predetermined value to the mix circuit 81D,as shown in a configuration drawing of the mix circuit relating to thetwenty-third embodiment in FIG. 28.

On/off control of SW2 is performed according to collector voltagecontrol information 93 provided by making a comparison between thecollector voltage and a reference value, as shown in FIG. 28. If thecollector voltage is low, the SW2 is turned off and ON voltageinformation is gradually raised according to a time constant of C*R2 forwidening the on width of the switching transistor. If the collectorvoltage is high, the SW2 is turned on and the ON voltage information israpidly lowered according to a time constant of C*{R2*R3/(R2+R3)} fornarrowing the on width of the switching transistor. That is, the circuitconfiguration of the mix circuit 81D is switched in response to themagnitude of the collector voltage of the switching transistor 39.Particularly, if the collector voltage is low, the time constantincreases and if the collector voltage is high, the time constantdecreases.

This control is effective for excessive voltage application preventionto a magnetron when the magnetron does not oscillate, namely, when theabove-described power control does not function. After oscillation startof the magnetron, to invalidate the control so as not to affect powercontrol, preferably the reference value to be compared with thecollector voltage is set large as compared with that before themagnetron oscillation start.

Twenty-Fourth Embodiment

A twenty-fourth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 29 adopts aconfiguration for switching the addition amount of input voltagewaveform information to input current waveform information before andafter oscillation of a magnetron. In the twenty-fourth embodiment, achangeover switch SW3 is provided between the shaping circuit 62 and themix circuit 81C in FIG. 8 (in the embodiment, 81D) and an oscillationdetection circuit 63 for detecting oscillation start of the magnetronfrom output of a rectifying circuit 72 is also provided. The connectionpoint of the changeover switch SW3 with the shaping circuit 62 isswitched between A and B according to the output of the oscillationdetection circuit 63. The shaping circuit 62 is provided with threevoltage dividing resistors connected in series between a diode andground for dividing and outputting power supply voltage information fromcommercial power supply voltage. The power supply voltage information atthe connection point A nearer to a commercial power supply 20 is largebecause the attenuation amount from the commercial power supply voltageis small as compared with the connection point B near to the ground. Acapacitor provided in the shaping circuit 62 suppresses entry of noiseinto the power supply voltage information from the commercial powersupply.

At the starting time of the magnetron (corresponding to thenon-oscillation time), the impedance between the anode and the cathodeof the magnetron becomes equal to infinity unlike that at the stationaryrunning time. Since such a difference between the stationary runningtime and the starting time affects the state of input current through atransformer 41, the oscillation detection circuit 63 can determinewhether or not the magnetron is at the starting time from the currentvalue obtained from the rectifying circuit 72.

When the magnetron being started is detected from the output of theoscillation detection circuit 63, the SW3 is switched to the position ofthe connection point A. In this case, a larger signal (input voltagewaveform information) is input to the mix circuit 81D and the startingtime is shortened as compared with switching to the position of theconnection point B as described above.

When the oscillation start is detected by the oscillation detectioncircuit 63, the SW3 is switched to the position of the connection pointB and the signal is attenuated and thus input current waveform shapingwhen the input current is large is not hindered and the power factorwhen the input current is small is improved.

The oscillation detection circuit includes a configuration using thecharacteristic that when the magnetron starts to oscillate, the inputcurrent increases, for example, for comparing output of an input currentdetection section with an oscillation detection threshold level by acomparator, etc., and latching the output of the comparator, or thelike.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application Nos.2005-340555, 2005-340556, 2005-340557, and 2005-340558 filed on Nov. 25,2005, which are incorporated herein by reference.

While the embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the items disclosed inthe embodiments and the invention also intends that those skilled in theart make changes, modifications, and application based on theDescription and widely known arts, and the changes, the modifications,and the application are also contained in the scope to be protected.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the power control for high-frequency dielectric heating inthe invention, a control loop is formed for correcting input current byinverting so that the portion where the input current is large becomessmall and the portion where the input current is small becomes large.Therefore, if there are variations in the types and the characteristicsof magnetrons, anode-cathode voltage fluctuation, power supply voltagefluctuation, etc., input current waveform shaping not affected by themcan be obtained according to a simpler configuration and stable outputof the magnetron is accomplished according to a simple configuration.

1. A power control method for high-frequency dielectric heating forcontrolling an inverter circuit for rectifying voltage of an AC powersupply, modulating the on time of high frequency switching of aswitching transistor, and converting into high frequency power, saidpower control method for high-frequency dielectric heating comprisingthe steps of: detecting input current from the AC power supply to theinverter circuit; acquiring input current waveform informationcorresponding to the input current; detecting input voltage from the ACpower supply to the inverter circuit; acquiring input voltage waveforminformation corresponding to the input voltage; detecting oscillation ofthe magnetron to determine whether the magnetron is being oscillated; inresponse to a determination that the magnetron is not being oscillated,(i) outputting the input voltage waveform information until oscillationof the magnetron is detected; (ii) adding the input current waveforminformation and the input voltage waveform information output untiloscillation of the magnetron is detected, and (iii) converting theaddition result of the input current waveform information and the inputvoltage waveform information into the drive signal of the switchingtransistor of the inverter circuit; and in response to a determinationthat the magnetron is being oscillated, converting the input currentwaveform information, without addition of the input voltage waveform,into the drive signal of the switching transistor of the invertercircuit.
 2. A power control method for high-frequency dielectric heatingfor controlling an inverter circuit for rectifying voltage of an ACpower supply, modulating the on time of high frequency switching of aswitching transistor, and converting into high frequency power, saidpower control method for high-frequency dielectric heating comprisingthe steps of: detecting input current from the AC power supply to theinverter circuit; acquiring input current waveform informationcorresponding to the input current; detecting input voltage from the ACpower supply to the inverter circuit; acquiring input voltage waveforminformation corresponding to the input voltage; turning a switch on tocommunicate the input voltage waveform information to a mixing circuitin response to a determination that a magnetron provided to ahigh-frequency heating apparatus is not oscillating; adding the inputcurrent waveform information and the input voltage waveform information;converting the addition result of the input current waveform informationand the input voltage waveform information into the drive signal of theswitching transistor of the inverter circuit; and turning the switch offto interrupt delivery of the input voltage waveform information to themixing circuit in response to a determine that the magnetron isoscillating.
 3. The power control method of claim 2 further comprising:turning the switch off to interrupt communication of the input voltagewaveform information to the mixing circuit in response to adetermination that the magnetron is oscillating.
 4. The power controlmethod of claim 2, wherein the mixing circuit comprises an additioncircuit and an inversion circuit, wherein the method further comprisesgenerating an output comprising an output signal that is indicative ofan inverted result of said adding the input current waveform informationand the input voltage waveform information.
 5. The power control methodof claim 2, wherein determining that the magnetron is not oscillatingcomprises sensing a substantial impedance to current flow through atransformer.
 6. The power control method of claim 2, wherein saidturning the switch on supplies the input voltage waveform informationhaving a relatively-large magnitude to the mixing circuit, and turningthe switch off supplies the input voltage waveform information having arelatively-small magnitude to the mixing circuit.